NITDA Plans to Establish AI Developer Communities across Nigeria
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has unveiled its plans to establish AI developer communities throughout Nigeria. This initiative, backed by the Federal Government of Nigeria, aims to foster technological development across the nation.
During a meeting with instructors and participants of the NITDA AI Developers Training (NAIDT) program in Abuja, Mr. Kashifu Inuwa, the Director-General of NITDA, announced the agency’s vision of creating local communities that will play a crucial role in shaping the future of technology in the country.
The AI training program was conducted by the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), in collaboration with the Google Developers Group (GDG). The pilot phase of the program in Abuja was deemed successful, and it will soon be replicated in other states across Nigeria.
In discussing his vision, Mr. Inuwa stated, The vision is to create a community of developers across the country where people can come, learn, and after that, they can teach others or start their businesses and impact society. I believe we can start with three states this year, then strategize on how to extend it to other states; with time, extend it to local government areas. This is driven by my firm belief that in Nigeria, our most valuable asset as a nation is our human capital.
The NAIDT platform, according to Mr. Inuwa, can be utilized to develop indigenous super applications such as generative AI and language modeling. These applications can then be tested using NITDA’s resources before being scaled up for government use, in line with the government’s digitalization plan.
Mr. Ya’u Garba, the National Director of NCAIR, also spoke at the event, explaining that the project aims to train one million developers under the slogan Learn, Teach, and Earn. The training program consists of three stages: Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced, with each stage equipping participants with the necessary skills to succeed in the IT industry.
During the training course, Mr. Ibrahim Muhammed, a representative of the Google Developers Group (GDG), commended the Director-General and NITDA for their consistent support. Thanks to the program, participants now have access to businesses, instructors, and job opportunities. Through coaching sessions and lectures, the 1227 beneficiaries from 10 cohorts learned how to program in artificial intelligence and machine learning.
The establishment of AI developer communities across Nigeria will undoubtedly contribute to the nation’s technological advancement. As Nigeria recognizes the importance of investing in its human capital, this significant step will empower developers, encourage innovation, and ultimately propel the country’s tech industry to new heights.
