There is huge market for Artificial Intelligence in Nigeria – Babajide Fakile 

Nigerian accomplished Software Engineer and Cybersecurity Specialist, Babajide Emmanuel Fakile, has disclosed that there is a huge potential market for Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Nigeria, given the country’s large population, burgeoning technology sector, and the numerous challenges that AI can help solve across various industries. The UK-based AI developer revealed this in a recent interview […]

Nigerian accomplished Software Engineer and Cybersecurity Specialist, Babajide Emmanuel Fakile, has disclosed that there is a huge potential market for Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Nigeria, given the country’s large population, burgeoning technology sector, and the numerous challenges that AI can help solve across various industries.

The UK-based AI developer revealed this in a recent interview after AI sector in Nigeria announced its groundbreaking artificial intelligence conference and hackathon in Lagos.

According to the study by group of professionals in the AI sector in the country, the growth will be driven by increasing healthcare, agriculture, finance, and education adoption.

Buttressing the point, Fakile said AI can be leveraged in several ways including learning, grading and evaluation of assignments, tests, and essays, reducing the workload on teachers and ensuring consistent and unbiased assessment.

In his words, “In the educational sector specifically, AI can be leveraged in several ways: Personalized learning through AI-powered adaptive learning platforms that tailor the learning experience to individual students’ needs, strengths, and weaknesses, providing personalized content, pacing, and feedback.

“Intelligent tutoring systems based on AI can act as virtual tutors, providing real-time assistance, explanations, and guidance to students, particularly in subjects like mathematics, science, and programming.

“Automated grading and evaluation through AI algorithms can automate the grading and evaluation of assignments, tests, and essays, reducing the workload on teachers and ensuring consistent and unbiased assessment.

“Student engagement and motivation can be enhanced by AI-powered virtual assistants and chatbots, which engage students in interactive learning experiences, providing instant feedback, and helping to keep them motivated and engaged. AI can also streamline administrative tasks such as timetable scheduling, resource allocation, and student record management, freeing up time for teachers to focus on teaching,” he stated.

However, the co-founder of Askam AI Solutions said to effectively leverage AI in the Nigerian educational sector, collaboration between the government and tech hubs is crucial.

“The government can provide funding and incentives for tech hubs and startups to develop AI solutions specifically tailored to the needs of the Nigerian educational system.

“Establishing public-private partnerships between the government, tech hubs, and educational institutions can facilitate the development, testing, and implementation of AI solutions in schools and universities. Tech hubs can collaborate with the government to organize training programs and workshops for teachers and administrators on the use and integration of AI technologies in the classroom.

“The government can work with tech hubs to establish secure and ethical data-sharing frameworks, allowing for the development of AI models based on local educational data and contextual factors. Tech hubs and the government can jointly launch pilot projects to test and validate AI solutions in selected schools or regions, paving the way for broader adoption and scaling.

“The government can develop a regulatory framework and guidelines for the responsible and ethical use of AI in education, addressing issues such as data privacy, algorithmic bias, and accountability,” he added.

Fakile concluded that, by fostering collaboration between the government and tech hubs, Nigeria can harness the power of AI to enhance its educational sector, improve learning outcomes, and equip its students with the skills necessary for the future job market.