Abuja: The Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, in collaboration with Meta, has introduced the Llama Impact Accelerator to promote impactful AI development in Nigeria. The initiative marks a significant step in Nigeria’s quest to cultivate a robust AI ecosystem and enhance national development through technological innovation.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the partnership was confirmed by Dr Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, in a statement released by Ms Sade Dada, Head of Public Policy for Anglophone West Africa at Meta. Dr Tijani emphasized the government’s view of AI as an essential tool for addressing national challenges, stating that the programme will provide innovators with crucial tools and expert guidance. This initiative is part of Meta’s broader strategy to democratize responsible AI and encourage local innovation within Nigeria’s expanding technology sector.
Dr Tijani further explained that collaboration with government entities, academia, and civil society is essential to developing a more inclusive and forward-thinking AI community in Nigeria. Ms Dada elaborated on Meta’s partnership with the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to support this initiative. She noted that the eight-month programme is designed for early-stage startups employing open-source Llama models to address national and regional challenges in agriculture, security and safety, healthcare, and a ‘wild card’ category for other high-impact innovations.
The wild card category is intended to inspire bold and innovative AI applications with the potential to significantly impact underserved sectors. The programme begins with a six-week incubation phase, providing technical training and mentorship from industry leaders and AI experts, followed by six months of extended support, including access to additional technical resources and growth opportunities.
Ms Dada expressed Meta’s enthusiasm for collaborating with FMCIDE on this initiative, acknowledging Nigeria’s vibrant innovation ecosystem and expanding pool of AI talent. Meta aims to empower communities through open-source AI solutions tailored to address Nigeria’s unique developmental challenges. The accelerator programme is designed to equip local talent with the necessary infrastructure, tools, and mentorship to develop responsible solutions using open-source models like Meta’s Llama.