Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to significantly impact the global economy and society. In Nigeria, the NaijaVoices initiative aims to enhance AI accessibility for locals by promoting indigenous languages and expanding digital representation.
Introduction
With the emergence of new technologies, artificial intelligence has become an essential part of various sectors in Nigeria, including healthcare, education, and finance. However, many local residents face challenges in accessing these developments, as existing AI models often overlook local languages and cultural peculiarities.
NaijaVoices Initiative and Its Goals
Chris Emezue, an AI researcher, founded NaijaVoices to create large datasets for Nigerian languages. "I wanted to build a large, meaningful dataset for Nigerian trade languages. Before NaijaVoices, existing datasets were limited to a few hours," he states. The primary goal of the initiative is to create a multifaceted context for employing innovative technologies in local languages, enabling the development of more effective solutions such as speech recognizers and translators.
Impact on the Future of Technology in Nigeria
According to Emezue, NaijaVoices' efforts hold tremendous significance, allowing languages such as Igala and Fulfulde to find a place in a global context. "We want to give people what they need to build technologies that are tailored to local users," he adds. However, funding limitations remain a serious obstacle. "We need more support to build our technologies for our community," Emezue emphasizes.
The NaijaVoices project represents an essential step towards integrating Nigerian languages into the digital space and preserving cultural heritage, which can, in turn, foster broader acceptance of technology in Nigeria.
