The Federal Government has partnered with Meta Platforms Inc. to launch GovGuide Nigeria, an artificial intelligence-powered chatbot designed to improve access to government services across the country in multiple local languages.
The initiative was announced on Thursday in a statement by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy following the unveiling of Meta’s Economic Impact Report in Nigeria.
GovGuide Nigeria is a multilingual voice and text chatbot developed through collaboration between Meta, the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, and local firm Publica AI.
According to the ministry, the platform provides seamless access to information on government services through a web-based interface and supports English, Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba.
The project is built using Meta’s open-source artificial intelligence models, including Llama, and is intended to demonstrate how AI can be used to improve public service delivery and digital inclusion.
Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, said the initiative reflects the government’s commitment to leveraging emerging technologies to make public services more accessible and responsive.
He said deploying AI tools in local languages and across widely used platforms would strengthen transparency, improve citizen engagement, and bring government services closer to the people.
Meta’s Head of Public Policy, Sade Dada, described open-source AI as a key driver of economic growth, adding that GovGuide Nigeria demonstrates how such technology can solve practical challenges.
She noted that the chatbot was built by Publica AI using Meta’s open-source models and was designed to serve users in both urban and rural communities, including those with limited literacy.
According to her, the project shows how open-source AI can stimulate local innovation, support talent development, and create tools that directly benefit citizens.
The Chief Executive Officer of Publica AI, Ignatius Willie, said the initiative represents a shift toward more conversational and accessible engagement between citizens and government institutions.
He added that GovGuide Nigeria was developed with contributions from Nigerian language experts and shaped to reflect local linguistic diversity.
The Federal Government said the chatbot forms part of broader efforts to expand digital inclusion, promote artificial intelligence adoption, and improve service delivery through technology-driven solutions.
The launch also underscores growing collaboration between government agencies and global technology firms to strengthen Nigeria’s digital economy and innovation ecosystem.
