Awarri, the pioneering Nigerian startup tasked with developing the nation's first AI model, has enlisted over 500 participants from the federal government's 3 Million Technical Talent program.
These fellows are contributing as data collectors to the creation of Nigeria’s Large Language Multilingual Model
Dr. Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, announced this development on Wednesday, emphasizing the government’s dedication to expanding tech job opportunities for Nigerians
Dr. Tijani expressed his satisfaction with Awarri’s progress since its inception in November 2023, noting the team has grown to 120 staff members.
The additional involvement of over 500 fellows from the 3MTT Nigeria program in data collection is a significant milestone.“We anticipate further growth in the sector as we build a robust technology workforce capable of impacting global AI advancements,” the Minister stated in a post on X.
The initiative began with 100 AI positions in Ikorodu last November. Dr. Tijani described Awarri as a comprehensive entity handling everything from data collection to model development and AI application.
The AI Model for Nigeria In April, during a four-day AI workshop in Abuja, Dr. Tijani announced the debut of Nigeria's first Multilingual Large Language Model (LLM).
This AI tool was developed in collaboration with Awarritech, DataDotOrg, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and the National Centre for AI and Robotics (NCAIR).
The LLM is set to be trained in five low-resource languages and accented English, enhancing language diversity in AI datasets. The project will also benefit from the support of over 7,000 fellows from the 3MTT Nigeria program.
Key Information As part of ongoing technical skills development, the government has pledged to create job opportunities for 3MTT fellows, aligning with President Tinubu’s goal of generating one million tech jobs within his first two years in office.
The Communications Minister recently revealed that many fellows from the first cohort are being placed in internships nationwide.
The 3MTT program is integral to the Renewed Hope agenda, aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s tech talent base to boost its digital economy and establish the country as a leading talent exporter.Starting with 30,000 participants, the program has now expanded to 270,000 in its second phase, reaching 10% of its 3 million target.
To meet this goal, various phases of the program will be rolled out in coordination with government bodies, training providers, educational institutions, development agencies, and the private sector.
