Israel has pledged to deepen its collaboration with Nigeria in the field of artificial intelligence, with a focus on supporting innovation, entrepreneurship and job creation through sustained knowledge sharing.

The commitment was made by the Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, during 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 and researchers for intensive training on artificial intelligence and business development.

Freeman said Israel is pursuing an ambitious strategy to become one of the world’s leading AI nations and is willing to share its expertise with Nigeria through ongoing and future partnerships.

According to him, the collaboration will extend beyond existing programmes and involve broader engagement with Nigerian institutions and stakeholders.

He described the initiative as the beginning of a more strategic relationship in the artificial intelligence space, noting that both countries stand to benefit from deeper cooperation.

The ambassador also emphasized that Israel intends to continue working with Nigeria to expand access to knowledge, strengthen innovation ecosystems and promote technological advancement.

He further argued that artificial intelligence should be seen as a tool for job creation rather than job loss, stressing that it can enhance productivity, improve business efficiency and create new economic opportunities.

Freeman said increased use of AI would also help ensure stronger African participation in global technological development, allowing local perspectives to shape emerging innovations.

He encouraged young Nigerians to build their futures within the country, stating that opportunities for success and innovation exist locally.

Earlier, a facilitator from Unistream, Dor Yaakov, commended participants for their creativity and problem-solving skills during the bootcamp.

He noted that many of the ideas presented by Nigerian innovators addressed challenges in education, healthcare, agriculture, sustainability and community development.

Yaakov expressed confidence that some of the solutions developed during the programme could grow into globally successful startups capable of addressing real-world problems at scale.

Speaking after the event, the Managing Director of Innov8 Hub, Gregory Ibe Jr., described the bootcamp as a targeted initiative designed to demonstrate how AI can improve productivity and create employment opportunities.

He explained that the programme focused on using artificial intelligence to strengthen businesses, increase efficiency and expand economic opportunities rather than replace workers.

About 20 teams participated in the training, and he expressed optimism that the partnership between Nigeria and Israel in the innovation space would continue to grow.

The engagement forms part of broader efforts by both countries to strengthen bilateral relations, particularly in areas such as technology, security, healthcare and economic development.