Author: Ugochukwu Levi F

In the global race for artificial intelligence, languages are quietly competing for survival. Those that are not digitised risk being left behind. With the launch of Google’s open speech dataset for African languages, Nigeria’s major indigenous tongues may finally be stepping into the AI spotlight. For years, artificial intelligence has struggled to understand African voices. From voice assistants that fail to recognise accents to speech-to-text tools that simply ignore indigenous languages, Africa, and Nigeria in particular, have remained on the sidelines of global AI conversation. That gap will now be closing up with Google launching WAXAL, a large open-access speech dataset…

Information technology experts have reiterated that cybersecurity is central to Nigeria’s economic growth and digital development, warning that inadequate cyber protection could leave the country trailing in the global digital economy. The call came on Tuesday during the maiden Annual Summit of the Professor Ademola Ojo Emmanuel Foundation (PAOEF), which also featured the public presentation of the book Leading the Digital Future. The event brought together policymakers, IT professionals, educators, youth leaders, and private-sector stakeholders to discuss pathways for strengthening Nigeria’s digital ecosystem. Delivering the keynote address, Professor Ademola Ojo Emmanuel, Africa’s first Professor of Cybersecurity and Information Technology Management,…

In Nigeria, everyone is hustling: students, content creators, entrepreneurs, and even farmers. But time is short, fingers get tired, and typing is slow. What if you could speak your ideas and have them instantly turned into text, audio, or even professional content? Thanks to AI voice tools, that’s no longer a dream-it’s the fastest way to create, communicate, and boost productivity across Nigeria. One of the challenges for content creators in Nigeria is time, which is often in short supply, even as demand for content continues to rise. From social media creators to students, radio broadcasters to entrepreneurs, everyone needs…

You may not notice it, but chances are you’ve already spoken to an artificial intelligence today. From banking alerts on WhatsApp to automated replies from online vendors and virtual study assistants helping students prepare for exams, AI chatbots are quietly becoming part of everyday life in Nigeria. Once seen as futuristic tools reserved for big tech companies, these digital assistants are now helping Nigerians save time, access services, and solve problems-often with nothing more than a smartphone and an internet connection. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a distant concept in Nigeria-it is already shaping how people bank, learn, shop,…

Ethiopia is taking a major step in modernising its financial oversight by deploying artificial intelligence (AI) technology to combat money laundering and terrorism financing. The initiative comes as part of a broader effort to strengthen the country’s financial systems and national security. The Ethiopian Artificial Intelligence Institute (EAII) and the Financial Intelligence Service (FIS) have signed an agreement to develop and implement an AI-powered system to detect suspicious financial transactions in real time. By analysing large volumes of complex financial data, the system is designed to identify patterns and anomalies that may indicate illicit activity. “The adoption of AI will…

A Liberian-built artificial intelligence (AI) startup has reached the semifinals of the prestigious Harvard Innovation Challenge, marking a significant milestone for Liberia and West Africa’s emerging technology sector. Founded by a team of Liberian entrepreneurs, the startup specialises in AI-driven solutions designed to tackle real-world challenges in healthcare, education, and finance. Their innovative approach and practical application of AI have earned them recognition among hundreds of global competitors. The Harvard Innovation Challenge, hosted annually by Harvard University in the United States, is one of the world’s most competitive platforms for startups. It evaluates participants based on innovation, scalability, impact, and…

From the farms of Benue to the bustling markets of Lagos, food moves through a long, inefficient journey before it reaches the Nigerian consumer. Along the way, delays, waste, and poor coordination quietly push prices higher. Tomatoes rot in transit, grains arrive late, and households pay the price. As food inflation tightens its grip on Nigeria, attention is shifting to an alternative ally, artificial intelligence. So here comes the pertinent question; can AI-powered supply chains fix what decades of inefficiency have broken? Let us find out. Nigeria’s Food Inflation Crisis Food prices in Nigeria have risen sharply in recent years,…

Nigeria stands at a critical juncture in the global artificial intelligence revolution. As economies worldwide increasingly integrate AI technologies across sectors, Nigeria’s demographic advantage, a young, growing population, presents a unique opportunity. However, this advantage remains largely untapped due to the scarcity of comprehensive AI courses in Nigerian universities. Without urgent development of university-level AI education, Nigeria risks falling behind in technological advancement, economic competitiveness, and workforce development. The time for Nigerian higher education to embrace artificial intelligence is not tomorrow; it is today. Understanding Artificial Intelligence in the 21st Century What Is Artificial Intelligence? Artificial intelligence refers to computer…

Elections in Nigeria have long been moments of national tension and aspiration. From the turbulent transitions of the late twentieth century to the consolidation of civilian rule since 1999, the credibility of the ballot has remained central to public trust. Every electoral cycle raises familiar concerns: voter intimidation, logistical failures, misinformation, vote-buying and disputes over results. Institutions such as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), civil society organisations, and the courts have worked to strengthen electoral processes, yet confidence in electoral outcomes remains variable across regions and political divides. Now, a new variable has entered the equation: artificial intelligence. AI…

Classrooms are no longer confined to school buildings. Across Nigeria, learning is quietly moving into living rooms, kitchens, and shared bedrooms, driven by rising education costs, overcrowded schools, and the pressure to succeed in high-stakes exams. As this shift gathers pace, a new kind of teacher is stepping in-one that never sleeps, never gets tired, and fits inside a smartphone. Artificial Intelligence is transforming home learning, offering Nigerian students personalised tutoring once reserved for the privileged few. Across Nigeria, learning is increasingly happening outside the traditional classroom. Rising school costs, overcrowded classrooms, teacher shortages, and exam pressure have pushed many…