Exciting news emerged in April when the Nigerian government unveiled plans to create a multilingual artificial intelligence tool to enhance digital inclusion throughout the country. This announcement brought a wave of excitement to 28-year-old computer science student, Lwasinam Lenham Dilli.
Dilli had faced challenges in sourcing datasets from the internet to construct a large language model (LLM) for AI chatbots in his native Hausa language during his university final-year project. “I needed texts in English and their corresponding translation in Hausa, but I couldn’t find any clean data online,” Dilli expressed.
The initiative by the government holds promise for individuals like Dilli who are keen on leveraging technology for innovation in their local languages. This move not only marks a significant step towards promoting digital inclusivity but also opens up opportunities for tech enthusiasts to advance their skills and contribute to the development of AI technology in their regions.