“We’ll Leverage Al to Seek out Poor People in Rural Areas” – Minister of Humanitarian Affairs

The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced the deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology to identify and support poor and vulnerable individuals in rural communities. This initiative, spearheaded by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, aims to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of poverty alleviation programs across the country.

Speaking in a recent interview, Minister Yilwatda emphasized the importance of leveraging AI to expand the National Social Register, ensuring that government interventions reach those most in need. “To help someone, you must first know them. You can’t support people you can’t identify,” he stated.

The AI-driven approach utilizes satellite imagery, telecoms data, and financial access indicators to pinpoint individuals living in extreme poverty. This method has already enabled the government to increase the social register from 13 million to 19.7 million people, incorporating both rural and urban poor.

The incident occurred shortly after the final whistle of the 2025 UEFA Champions League Final at Wembley Stadium. As players celebrated on the pitch and UEFA officials prepared for the formal trophy presentation, Speed—who was attending the match as a special guest and content creator—was seen enthusiastically sprinting toward the trophy display area.