The Ambassador of Israel to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, has pledged deeper collaboration with Nigeria in the field of artificial intelligence, promising continued support aimed at promoting innovation, entrepreneurship and job creation.
Freeman made the commitment at the closing ceremony of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Bootcamp 2026 held in Abuja.
The four-day programme, organised by Innov8 Hub under the theme “From Ideas to Impact: Building AI-Enabled Ventures for the Future,” brought together young innovators, startup founders, researchers and entrepreneurs for training on innovation and AI-driven business development.
Speaking at the event, the ambassador revealed that Israel is pursuing an ambitious strategy to become one of the world’s leading nations in artificial intelligence and is ready to share its expertise with Nigeria through existing and future partnerships.
“We are going all in on AI. We are going to be one of the world leaders in AI within the next few years,” Freeman said.
He added that Israel intends to continue sharing knowledge and technical expertise with Nigeria through Innov8 Hub and other collaborative platforms.
“This was the first time we’ve done this, but it certainly won’t be the last. We are committed to building stronger partnerships and creating opportunities for both countries,” he said.
According to the ambassador, the partnership will go beyond current programmes and involve wider cooperation with the Nigerian government and private sector to strengthen technological development.
Freeman described the collaboration as the beginning of a long-term relationship focused on artificial intelligence and innovation.
“This is the start of a serious partnership that we intend to build in the AI sector,” he noted.
The envoy also challenged the belief that artificial intelligence would lead to widespread job losses, arguing that the technology could instead create new opportunities for employment and business growth.
“AI is not here to take away jobs. It can help create jobs, improve businesses, increase productivity and open new opportunities for people,” he said.
He stressed that increased participation by African countries in AI development would ensure that local perspectives and solutions are reflected in emerging technologies.
“The more Nigerians engage with AI, the stronger the Nigerian and African voice will be in shaping the future of the technology,” Freeman added.
The ambassador further encouraged young Nigerians to build their futures at home rather than seeking opportunities abroad.
“Everything you need to succeed is here in Nigeria. Your future is not in another country; your future is here,” he said.
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Also speaking at the event, Dor Yaakov, a lead facilitator from Unistream, praised the creativity and problem-solving skills demonstrated by participants.
He said many of the innovations showcased addressed challenges in healthcare, education, agriculture, sustainability and community development, adding that some of the ideas had the potential to become globally successful startups.
“I believe we will soon see startups from Nigeria solving problems for millions of people around the world,” Yaakov said.
The Managing Director of Innov8 Hub, Gregory Ibe Jr., described the programme as a unique initiative focused on using AI to improve productivity and create employment opportunities.
According to him, the training was designed to help entrepreneurs use artificial intelligence as a tool for business growth rather than as a replacement for human workers.
“This programme focused on increasing productivity, expanding opportunities and helping businesses grow. The goal is to create more jobs, not fewer,” he said.
Ibe disclosed that about 20 teams participated in the bootcamp alongside Innov8 Hub staff members, expressing confidence that the partnership between Nigeria and Israel in the technology sector would continue to grow in the coming years.
