A new nationwide initiative, COSAS VANGUARD, is seeking to build a structured network of young researchers across Nigeria, combining professional research services, youth development and the responsible adoption of artificial intelligence.
In an exclusive interview with AIBase reporter Ahmad Ibrahim, the initiative’s founder, Babangida Lawal Ibrahim, said COSAS VANGUARD is being developed as a national network of trained young researchers with representation across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas.
The name COSAS is an acronym for Collection, Organising, Summarising, Analysing and Synthesising — the core stages of the research process that the initiative intends to strengthen through structured training and professional practice.
“I am building a national network of young researchers called COSAS VANGUARD,” Ibrahim told AIBase.
According to him, the network is expected to operate as both a business and a volunteering platform, bringing together researchers through a nationwide leadership and operational structure.
“It will have at least one trained research representative from each of the 774 LGAs in Nigeria, one state leader in each of the 36 states plus the FCT, six geopolitical zone leaders, and a National Executive Council overseeing various directorates,” he said.
Addressing Nigeria’s research skills gap
Ibrahim said the initiative was conceived in response to what he described as a shortage of trained researchers who combine practical competence with strong ethical and professional standards.
“There is a clear gap in trained researchers who uphold research ethics and professionalism to meet global standards,” he said.
He argued that non-governmental organisations, businesses and research institutions often struggle to find readily available and properly trained teams for surveys, fieldwork and other research assignments.
Ibrahim also identified a broader challenge within Nigeria’s graduate population, describing what he called the “SABIFICATE vs CERTIFICATE” challenge — a situation in which academic qualifications do not always translate into practical problem-solving abilities.
“Many graduates have degrees but lack practical problem-solving skills. Mentorship is largely missing,” he said.
Beyond research services, COSAS VANGUARD is intended to create employment and professional development opportunities for young Nigerians.
“COSAS VANGUARD will also serve as a platform to employ Nigerian youths part-time or full-time, build their professional capacity and connect them to real opportunities,” Ibrahim said.
AI at the centre of operations
Artificial intelligence is expected to play a central role in the initiative’s operations, although Ibrahim stressed that its adoption would be guided by ethical considerations and practical value.
“AI will be central to our operations,” he said.
The organisation plans to deploy AI across a range of activities, including recruitment, content creation, graphic design, video generation and automated social media publishing.
AI is also being used to support the development of training materials and courses. Ibrahim said the team has already published courses covering ethical statistical practice and research skills, including a course adapted from the guidelines of the American Statistical Association.
“We are also using AI to design courses,” he said.
The technology is further expected to support virtual training, data collection and data analysis.
“We will adopt AI ethically and only where it adds clear value,” Ibrahim added.
A nationwide model for research talent
Ibrahim believes COSAS VANGUARD occupies a relatively unexplored space within Nigeria’s research ecosystem.
“To the best of my knowledge, there is currently no similar platform like COSAS VANGUARD in Nigeria,” he said.
“It aims to be the first nationwide, structured network of trained young researchers built for both social impact and enterprise.”
The initiative is being built on experience gained by members of the team, several of whom already operate individual research consultancy businesses.
“Since our university days, we have carried out several research and statistical analysis projects,” Ibrahim said.
Through DIGITAL DATA CLINIC, the team has also undertaken a significant amount of pro-bono work, supporting lecturers, colleagues, family members and community-based initiatives.
“Some have been published, others are ongoing. We are now formalising to properly track clients and users,” he said.
However, Ibrahim acknowledged that the organisation is still developing systems for measuring the impact of its work.
“We currently do not have a strong feedback mechanism. This is a gap we are working to close to better evaluate the outcomes and impact of our services,” he said.
Business model and challenges
COSAS VANGUARD intends to generate revenue primarily through professional research services.
According to Ibrahim, the business model will focus on “paid statistical analysis services and paid field surveys”.
The venture, however, faces challenges common to many emerging knowledge-based businesses in Nigeria, particularly around compensation and talent development.
Ibrahim identified “underpayment for services rendered” as one of the biggest obstacles facing the business.
He also pointed to what he described as a tendency among some young workers to prioritise immediate financial returns over long-term professional development.
“The tendency of young employees to prioritise immediate payment — quick money mentality — over long-term learning and mentorship” remains a significant challenge, he said.
Building an African AI ecosystem through research
For AIBase readers, Ibrahim said the broader ambition of COSAS VANGUARD extends beyond commercial research services.
“With COSAS VANGUARD, we are mobilising young Nigerians to work professionally and ethically to build an AI ecosystem for Africa, starting with research,” he said.
He said the organisation intends to pursue this objective through partnerships with institutions, organisations and mentors focused on youth development.
“We will achieve this by collaborating with like-minded organisations and mentors who are committed to youth development,” Ibrahim added.
Over the next five years, the organisation has set an ambitious target of recruiting and empowering 20,000 young Nigerians through research training and professional development.
“In the next five years, through COSAS VANGUARD, we plan to recruit and empower 20,000 Nigerian youths, at least five from each LGA per year, through rigorous training to meet global job demands,” Ibrahim said.
The initiative also aims to develop into what he described as a recognised global research hub.
Another major objective is to contribute to the development of AI systems and outputs that better reflect African realities.
“We plan to contribute to domesticating AI outputs to reflect African realities through evidence-based research and policy engagement,” he said.
Ultimately, Ibrahim said COSAS VANGUARD intends to position research as both a pathway to employment and a tool for addressing wider societal challenges.
The organisation also plans to “actively participate in solving societal problems through legal and ethical means”.
As artificial intelligence increasingly influences business, governance, education and everyday life, initiatives capable of generating high-quality local data and research may become increasingly important. COSAS VANGUARD is positioning itself around that opportunity, with a model that seeks to connect Nigeria’s young talent with practical research experience while contributing evidence and African perspectives to the rapidly evolving global AI landscape.
