Nigeria is making bold strides in artificial intelligence by ensuring AI systems can understand and respond in local languages like Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, and Nigerian Pidgin. Leading this transformation is Data Science Nigeria's Olubayo Adekanmbi, whose EqualyzAI project is training Afro-centric models like Afro-SLM using real speech, text, and video from everyday Nigerians. Similarly, Temi Babalola’s Spitch AI, launched in late 2024, now offers APIs that power African language voice tools used in contact centers and mobile services across the continent.
Academic research is also stepping up. A recent study by S. E. Emedem produced WAZOBIA-NER, an AI model that detects names and locations in local languages with over 95% accuracy. Meanwhile, Omolabake Adenle’s Ajala.ai is developing multilingual voice tech for African languages including Kinyarwanda and Swahili, further proving that language inclusion is not just possible but already happening. These tools have real-world use cases in education, agriculture, fintech, and customer support.
This rise of indigenous language AI is not just about technology—it’s about accessibility and representation. With lighter models suited for Africa’s infrastructure and platforms rooted in local experience, Nigerian developers are showing the world that inclusive AI is practical, powerful, and essential. The machine now speaks our language—and the future is already here.
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