AI IS NIGERIA’S NEW WEAPON IN THE FIGHT AGAINST POVERTY

In a country where poverty hides behind countless lives, something remarkable is happening – Artificial Intelligence is identifying the poor Nigerians.

Yes, you read that right.

Who could have predicted that one day, artificial intelligence would evolve into Nigeria poverty reduction?

In a bold new initiative by the Federal Government of Nigeria, the nation is transforming silicon chips into a significant social impact. Hence, harnessing Artificial Intelligence (AI), not to surveil citizens or simply automate traffic lights, but to locate poverty in hard-to-reach urban slums and transfer funds directly to those who need it most.

Recently, during a live interview, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, unveiled Ai revolution in social welfare that is reshaping Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Nigeria. The government’s Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program, once criticised for inefficiency and fraud, has now been revitalised with data science. This new Aritificial Intelligence (AI) system tracks mobile usage, digital footprints, and subtle banking behaviours, leading to the inclusion of an additional 6.5 million urban poor Nigerians in the National Social Register, raising the total to an impressive 19.7 million.

This story is far from the typical bureaucratic story filled with slow-moving paperwork and missing files. It is simply AI designed to combat poverty from the grassroots, utilising data for digital cash transfer, and to drive social change.

Recently, during a live interview, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, unveiled a digital revolution that is reshaping social responsibility in Nigeria. The government’s Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program, once criticised for inefficiency and fraud, has now been revitalised with data science. This new AI system tracks mobile usage, digital footprints, and subtle banking behaviours, leading to the inclusion of an additional 6.5 million urban poor Nigerians in the National Social Register, raising the total to an impressive 19.7 million.

Let that number sink in. Nineteen. Point. Seven. Million. Nigerians.

Historically, Slums in city centres often slipped through the cracks, obscured by barriers and digital silence, and are frequently overlooked and missing from government databases. However, with AI analysing telecom networks and transaction histories in collaboration with service providers, the invisible poor Nigerians are finally becoming visible and, more importantly, gaining access to financial inclusion.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has made it clear: no more envelopes, no more middlemen. All disbursements under the CCT program are now fully cashless. Beneficiaries receive their funds directly into their bank accounts, eliminating the corruption that has long plagued social programs. This approach signifies poverty intervention with zero tolerance for unnecessary ‘wahala’.

But wait, how do we know this isn’t just another techy press release?

Here’s where it gets exciting: the revamped system underwent rigorous scrutiny by both the World Bank and independent civil society organisations, revealing a remarkable 94% match rate. Almost every beneficiary on the list was verified in real life. The remaining 6%? Mainly unreachable due to inactive SIM cards or relocation. No fraudulent or ghost beneficiaries.

At CSR Reporters, we’re not just watching this unfold, we’re cheering it on. Because this isn’t just a digital upgrade. It’s tech-powered social responisbility in Africa, where data is working overtime to bridge inequality. It’s what happens when social responsibility isn’t just written in a corporate policy but coded into the DNA of national development.

In a world where AI is often viewed as a job threat, Nigeria is flipping the narrative – utilising AI to uphold dignity and instil hope. The anticipated 2025 expansion promises even greater advancements: deeper field verification, stronger oversight, and a seamless integration of human compassion with algorithmic efficiency. If social impact had a digital dashboard, this would certainly be lighting up green across the board.

And that, dear readers, is what real Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) looks like!