Awari AI, SAIL Innovation Form Partnership To Train Youth In AI Across Africa

Awari AI, a rapidly expanding AI/robotics company that is facilitating the development and adoption of cutting-edge technology on the African continent, starting from Nigeria, has hired more than a hundred young people who completed Tech Talent and Data Science training at the SAIL Innovation Lab for respectable artificial intelligence positions.

In a press statement released by the Special Adviser to Senator Tokunbo Abiru, Enitan Olukotun, it was said that the company has partnered with the SAIL Innovation Lab in Ikorodu to source talent continuously for the multibillion-dollar AI industry, which is predicted to transform every aspect of life in the coming years. The company has selected the SAIL Innovation Lab as a launchpad for multiple locations in Nigeria and Africa.

In his remarks, the co-founder of the SAIL Innovation Lab and a senator from Lagos East, Senator Mukhail Adetokunbo Abiru, FCA, stated that the cooperation with Awari AI marked the start of a revolutionary journey in Ikorodu and the Lagos East Senatorial District overall.   

The senator said, “The Awari AI project, which we launch today, stands as a testament to our resolute commitment to embracing technology and innovation.  It heralds a new era where industries will be redefined, jobs will be created, and our youth will be empowered. 

“Throughout the annals of history, humanity has been witness to extraordinary revolutions. From the advent of steam power to the electrifying dawn of electricity, and from the proliferation of computers to the connected world of the internet, each era brought profound transformations to our lives.

“Today, we stand on the precipice of the 4th Industrial Revolution, a realm characterized by artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, biotechnology, and automation. This revolution promises unprecedented opportunities for Nigeria and Africa, and it is incumbent upon us to seize this moment”. 

Given the abundance of job prospects and potential for economic growth in the technology industry, Senator Abiru revealed his passion for tech and digital abilities. He revealed that over 150 in-class participants and 1,200 online learners have benefited from his SAIL Innovation Lab initiative since he started it with five trial programs in 2022.

Abiru said, “Today, the SAIL Innovation Lab has left an indelible mark on the lives of over 4,173 participants through a diverse array of programs, including Tech Talent Development, STEM initiatives tailored for Senior Secondary School Students, Lagos East Teachers Fellowship, Start-Up Accelerator, and Data Science for Society. 

“These programs have now evolved to offer job prospects through our esteemed partner organizations. Awari AI has taken the lead by employing nearly 100 of our graduates and pledging to continue its role as a platform for future outstanding participants seeking employment. 

“In an era where digital skills have become an essential currency, the SAIL Innovation Lab serves as a bridge, closing the digital divide. Our vision is to provide free training to young individuals in high-demand tech skills and work collaboratively with our partners to secure them decent job placements.” 

The co-founders of Awari AI, Silas Adekunle and Ms. Eniola Edun, stated that artificial intelligence is the new wave that Nigeria should embrace in its efforts to seize possibilities in the contemporary digital and innovation age.

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, said that it has taken less than seven months for the SAIL Innovation Lab to reach its objectives since the state of the earth innovation lab was put into operation.

The minister said, “We set out to open up the minds of young people to opportunities that are available globally, and these opportunities are no longer the preserve of the developed world. We live at a time when technology now connects each and every one of us strongly. The technologies have given us the opportunities to overcome barriers and be part of the global economy. 

Tijani then said that due to the foreign origin of Artificial Intelligence, “We (Nigerians) have not been able to participate fully and harness its benefits. For the first time in the history of Nigeria and anywhere in Nigeria, Awari AI have decided to start a company that will focus on building that knowledge so that computers will also think like us. For the first time in Nigeria, hundreds of people are being hired from the SAIL Innovation Lab.”

The commissioner for Science, Innovation, and Technology, Hon. Tunbosun Alake, then revealed that the State Government would be working with the initiative in partnership. He also expressed gratitude to Senator Abiru for spearheading the project.

Ozioma Samuel-Ugwuezi

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