Nigerian AI Initiative Fuels Tech Jobs Boom

Nigeria is poised to become a significant player in the global digital economy as it continues to develop its technology workforce.

Local startup Awarri has been selected to spearhead the development of Nigeria’s inaugural artificial intelligence, as the country’s developing technology sector is now turning inward.

This ambitious endeavor is a technological accomplishment and a significant employment opportunity, as reported by local media. Awarri has recruited over 600 associates from the federal government’s 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) program to serve as data collectors in developing a significant language multilingual model (LLM).

Job creation in tech space

Bosun Tijani, the Nigerian minister of communications, innovation, and digital economy, underscored the government’s dedication to promoting job creation in the technology sector and the Awarri team’s rapid expansion in an X announcement on July 24.

Tijani has also emphasized the expanded vision that underpins this initiative. The government has pledged to provide employment opportunities for the 3MTT associates as part of the ongoing technical skills training.

This initiative is consistent with President Bola Tinubu’s pledge to generate one million technology jobs within the first two years of his presidency.

The minister emphasized the successful placement of numerous associates from the program’s initial cohort in nationwide internship positions. The 3MTT initiative is a critical component of the Nigerian president’s “Renewed Hope” agenda, designed to establish a technical talent base in Nigeria to drive its digital economy.

The program commenced with 30,000 Nigerians, which constituted 1% of the three million target. It has since grown to include 270,000 participants in its second cohort.

Awarri’s contributions

Awarri, which initiated its journey with 120 AI positions, has rapidly evolved into a comprehensive technology company. It provides a comprehensive service encompassing the development of AI applications, model formulation, and data collection.

The startup’s mission is consistent with the Nigerian government’s overarching objectives to establish the nation as a significant participant in the global AI landscape.

Nigeria’s AI capabilities are poised to be revolutionized by the LLM developed by Awarri. Awarritech, DataDotOrg, the National Information Technology Development Agency, and the National Centre for AI and Robotics are all involved in the collaborative initiative. Tijani officially launched after a four-day AI workshop in Abuja in April.

The LLM is designed to improve language representation in existing data sets by being trained in five low-resource languages and accented English, guaranteeing broad applicability and inclusivity.