Author: Joseph Michael

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has urged Nigerian youths to take advantage of opportunities in artificial intelligence (AI) by developing homegrown solutions capable of addressing the country’s socio-economic challenges. The call was made during an Artificial Intelligence Hackathon organised in partnership with VibeCode Africa in Abuja. Speaking at the event, NITDA Director-General Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi encouraged young Nigerians to move beyond being consumers of foreign technologies and become creators of innovative digital products tailored to local needs. He noted that Nigeria’s youthful population represents a strong advantage in the global digital economy and can drive technological growth across…

Visa is using artificial intelligence (AI) systems to identify and target “high-intent” users in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as part of its wider strategy to expand digital payments in one of Africa’s most cash-dependent economies. The initiative is tied to the rollout of Visa Pay, a mobile-first payments platform designed to connect banks, mobile money operators, and consumers through interoperable digital infrastructure. The system enables users to send and receive money, pay merchants, and conduct online transactions in Congolese francs and U.S. dollars, while integrating with major mobile money services such as Airtel Money, Orange Money, and M-Pesa…

What began as a modest digital training programme in a public girls’ secondary school in southeastern Nigeria has quickly evolved into an unexpected international success story, placing students from Ado Girls Secondary School on the global artificial intelligence stage. The school recently received the Outstanding Organisation Award at the global AI Youth Competition organised by the International AI Youth Education Society, a contest that drew participants from countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, China and Russia. The recognition is being viewed as the result of targeted digital inclusion efforts rather than a sudden breakthrough. At the centre of…

The Higher Education Authority has urged universities and tertiary institutions to urgently integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into teaching, learning, research, and administration, describing it as a core driver of transformation in modern education rather than a peripheral tool. This position was reinforced at a Leadership Summit on Generative AI in Higher Education Teaching and Learning held at University College Cork, where education leaders, policymakers, and technology experts discussed how institutions can adopt generative AI responsibly while maintaining academic integrity and quality assurance. The HEA stressed that AI can no longer be treated as optional. It called for its integration into…

Like it or not, artificial intelligence is already shaping how people work, communicate, shop, learn, and even make decisions every day. From unlocking your phone with facial recognition to getting movie recommendations on Netflix, AI is quietly embedded in almost everything digital. But not all AI is the same. Some systems are extremely good at one specific task but completely useless outside of it. Others are designed at least in theory to think, reason, and learn like a human across any situation. This is where the distinction between Narrow AI and General AI becomes essential. Understanding this difference is the…

Applications are now open for the 2027 edition of the MEST Africa AI Startup Program, a fully funded initiative designed to equip African entrepreneurs with the technical, business, and leadership skills required to build globally competitive artificial intelligence startups. The programme targets aspiring AI founders aged 21 to 35 from Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, and Kenya with software development experience and a strong interest in building AI-driven products and ventures. According to MEST Africa, the initiative is structured as an immersive training and incubation pathway that blends advanced technical instruction with support for startup development. The organisation says the goal is…

U.S. President Donald Trump sparked widespread online reaction after sharing an artificial intelligence-generated image depicting himself escorting a handcuffed alien figure in what appeared to be a military-style setting. The image was posted on Trump’s social media platform, Truth Social, on Saturday and quickly spread across social media platforms including X, Reddit, and Instagram, where users debated the meaning and intent behind the post. The digitally created image showed Trump walking beside a grey extraterrestrial figure in restraints while armed personnel stood nearby. The background resembled a high-security military installation, leading many online users to compare the scene to the…

Researchers have developed a new artificial intelligence system that could significantly extend the lifespan of electric vehicle (EV) batteries by improving how they are charged and managed over time, without slowing down charging speed. The innovation comes from scientists at Chalmers University of Technology, who developed an AI-based charging method that continuously adjusts the charging current based on the battery’s real-time conditions, including its health status and internal chemical behaviour. Unlike traditional fast-charging methods, which can accelerate wear and reduce long-term capacity, this approach is designed to limit harmful effects, such as lithium plating, while still allowing fast charging. The…

The Tanzanian government has launched a major initiative to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) into its national disaster management systems, signalling a shift toward technology-driven emergency preparedness and climate resilience. The move comes as East Africa continues to face severe floods, droughts, landslides, and other climate-related disasters that have increasingly strained traditional response systems. Officials say the AI-powered framework will improve the country’s ability to predict disasters, process emergency data in real time, and coordinate faster responses before crises escalate into humanitarian emergencies. The initiative is being implemented through the Disaster Operations Centre under the Prime Minister’s Office and is expected…

Nigeria’s digital economy is expanding at a historic pace. Financial technology platforms are processing millions of daily transactions, digital banking adoption continues to accelerate, e-commerce activity is increasing across urban and rural communities, and government services are becoming more digitised every year. This transformation has created enormous economic opportunity, but it has also introduced a new category of risk. Cybercriminals are no longer relying solely on conventional attack methods. Artificial intelligence is now being weaponised to automate phishing campaigns, imitate executives through deepfake audio and video, exploit software vulnerabilities faster, and bypass traditional security systems. In response, organisations are increasingly…