The Nigerian government has taken a significant step forward in its Artificial Intelligence (AI) development efforts by announcing the launch of its first multilingual large language model (LLM), as revealed by Minister Bosun Tijani on Friday, April 19. This milestone comes on the heels of a four-day AI workshop held in Abuja, underscoring Nigeria’s commitment to innovation in the digital economy.
Collaborating with local AI firms such as Awarritech and global tech companies like DataDotOrg, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and the National Centre for AI and Robotics (NCAIR), Nigeria aims to leverage AI to drive economic growth and address societal challenges.
With the launch of the multilingual LLM, Nigeria seeks to tap into the burgeoning AI market, which is projected to reach $0.89 billion in 2024, with an estimated annual growth rate of 46.36% leading to a market value of $8.75 billion by 2030, according to Statista.
Minister Tijani highlighted the collaborative efforts of over 120 AI experts during the workshop, resulting in the drafting of Nigeria’s initial National AI Strategy. This strategy aims to accelerate the country’s AI development through partnerships and advancements in AI technologies.
The LLM will be trained in five low-resource languages and accented English, ensuring greater language representation in existing datasets for AI solutions. Moreover, the project will benefit from the support of over 7,000 fellows from the 3MTT Nigeria program, further enhancing its impact and reach.
To support this initiative, Nigeria’s National AI Strategy has secured $3.5 million in seed funding from various partners, including UNDP, UNESCO, Meta, Google, Microsoft, Luminate, Lagos Business School, Data Science Nigeria, NITDA, and other affiliated agencies. This funding will play a crucial role in driving the implementation of AI projects across the country.
Additionally, 21st Century Technologies, a commercial data center service provider, has invested $2 million in the pilot program, further bolstering Nigeria’s AI development efforts. This injection of capital underscores the private sector’s confidence in Nigeria’s AI initiatives and their potential for transformative impact.
Looking ahead, Nigeria and the United States plan to strengthen economic ties through collaborative AI initiatives. At the workshop’s closing ceremony, Arthur Brown, Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy, announced plans for a conference in Lagos, where senior US government officials will convene to explore opportunities for collaboration in talent development, infrastructure, research, and innovation.
Brown emphasized the United States’ commitment to working with Nigeria as equal partners to drive forward AI initiatives that benefit both nations. This collaboration underscores the importance of international cooperation in advancing AI technology and harnessing its potential for socioeconomic development.