NITDA's Initiative: Building Nationwide AI Developer Communities for Nigeria's Technological Future

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) acting on behalf of the Federal Government has unveiled a strategic plan to establish AI developer communities across Nigeria. Mr. Kashifu Inuwa, NITDA's Director-General, revealed this during an event in Abuja, where both trainers and beneficiaries of the NITDA AI Developers Training (NAIDT) program were present.

Fostering Nationwide AI Communities for Technological Advancement

Mr. Inuwa stressed the importance of these communities in shaping the country's technological landscape. In collaboration with the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR) and Google Developers Group (GDG), NITDA has launched an initiative to lay the groundwork for Nigeria's technological future. Having successfully initiated the pilot phase in Abuja, this blueprint is poised for replication across various states.

Outlining the government's vision for AI developers in Nigeria, Mr. Inuwa articulated a vision centered on creating a nationwide network of developers. He stated, "Our objective is to establish developer communities throughout the nation. These spaces will facilitate knowledge exchange, expertise sharing, and the eventual mentorship of others or even the launch of impactful ventures. I foresee a step-by-step expansion, beginning with three states this year and progressively encompassing more states and local government areas. This endeavor is rooted in my unwavering belief that Nigeria's greatest asset lies in the collective human capital."

Mr. Inuwa also highlighted that the NAIDT platform holds the potential to incubate indigenous super applications, including generative AI and language modeling. The strategy involves a Proof-of-Concept (POC) phase with NITDA, followed by broader implementation across the government. This approach dovetails with the government's digital transformation agenda.

Holistic Pathways for AI Education

Mr. Ya’u Garba, NCAIR's National Director, provided insights into the year-old initiative targeting the training of one million developers under the theme "Learn, Teach, and Earn." The training program is structured around three tiers: Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced. "At the foundational level, participants are equipped with essential skills to become proficient programmers, with a focus on Python as the fundamental language," Garba elucidated. He further detailed that after mastering Python, participants progress to the intermediate level, where they acquire the requisite expertise to embark on their IT journey. The advanced stage, with a problem-centric approach, caters to those aiming to elevate their skills.

The program earned commendation from Mr. Ibrahim Muhammed, representing Google Developers Group (GDG), who lauded NITDA's steadfast support throughout the training initiative. The program has given rise to instructors, startups, and job opportunities for participants. Over ten cohorts, the program has benefited 1227 individuals, guiding them through a comprehensive curriculum that hones programming skills in the domains of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning.