The Nigerian government, through the Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, has taken a significant step towards becoming a leader in artificial intelligence (AI) development in Africa. Nigeria has launched its first-ever multilingual large language model (LLM), marking a major milestone in the country’s AI progress.
The announcement was made by Dr. Bosun Tijani, Nigeria’s Communications Minister, on April 19th. The launch of the LLM followed a four-day AI workshop held in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria. The collaboration between Nigerian AI firm Awarritech, global tech company DataDotOrg, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and the National Centre for AI and Robotics (NCAIR) played a crucial role in making the AI tool a reality.
Dr. Bosun Tijani emphasized that the development of the LLM was the result of extensive collaborative work involving over 120 AI experts. During the workshop, Nigeria also unveiled its National AI Strategy, which was a significant achievement for the country. Various advancements and collaborations were showcased, all aimed at driving Nigeria’s AI development forward.
One notable announcement made during the workshop was a partnership between 21st Century Technologies, Galaxy Backbone, and NCAIR Nigeria. This collaboration aims to accelerate the progress of AI projects that are essential for the nation. 21st Century Technologies will provide funding for the purchase of GPUs, which will enhance the country’s computing capacity. These resources will support local researchers, startups, and government entities working on AI projects based at the GBB Data Centre in the FCT.
Another key highlight of the workshop was the relaunch of NCAIR, a dedicated entity focused on promoting research and development in AI, robotics, UAV, and the Internet of Things (IoT) in Nigeria’s key sectors. Dr. Bosun Tijani stated that the increased capacity at NCAIR would enable it to effectively carry out its role as a digital innovation and research center.
To support the National AI Strategy, interested partners have already provided $3.5 million in seed funding. This funding comes from both foreign and local partners, including UNDP, UNESCO, Meta, Google, Microsoft, Luminate, Lagos Business School, Data Science Nigeria, NITDA, and other agencies under the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy. The funding includes $1.5 million in direct funding and an additional $2 million invested by 21st Century Technologies into the pilot program.
With the launch of Nigeria’s multilingual large language model and the progress made during the AI workshop, the country is poised to make significant strides in AI development. This achievement not only positions Nigeria as a leader in AI in Africa but also opens up numerous opportunities for research, innovation, and economic growth in the country.