Nigeria’s Minister of Communication, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, has revealed the names of 45 people and groups selected for the National AI Research Grant Scheme (NAIRS).
These recipients, who are leading in AI research and its use in Nigeria, will be given up to ₦5,000,000 each. The Minister mentioned that 25 well-known AI experts from around the world carefully assessed the applications to choose the awardees. People could apply for this opportunity from October 13, 2023, to November 15, 2023.
Tijani spoke about the individuals or groups who received support on X. He mentioned that the ideas put forward by the 45 recipients addressed some of the significant issues in the country. Tijani expressed belief in the ability of these awardees to bring about positive changes in various sectors, empower their communities, foster innovation, and, in the end, boost Nigeria’s technology scene globally.
Out of the 45 people benefiting, 11 startups were chosen to receive funding through the National AI Research Grant Scheme.
Meet the 11 Startups Chosen for the National AI Research Grant!
The awarded startups cover various areas like health, agriculture, education, finance, governance, utility, and environmental sustainability and they are as follows:
- Aurelius is a startup that uses artificial intelligence to help plan radiation therapy for healthcare. Their system automates the process of contouring, making it easier and more efficient.
- Cardio Intel is a special health app that uses smart technology (AI) to keep an eye on your health and find potential heart problems early on. It’s like having a personal monitor for your heart, all on your phone.
- Nurse Oge is like a smart healthcare assistant who uses technology to watch over, diagnose, and help treat patients
- Tamela is working on teaching computers how to understand ultrasound images during pregnancy.
- Quantum Innovative Tech Solutions Ltd brings you an AI-powered system that helps manage your health in real time, providing valuable insights and detecting any unusual signs.
- Life-Elixir Computers introduces a special AI algorithm designed for a specific region, dedicated to diagnosing cancer through medical image analysis.
- Farmspeak Technology Limited offers an AI platform that provides real-time insights to reduce poultry mortality rates and make farms more resilient to changing climates.
- Gwin Technologies Limited presents a smart mobile diagnostic tool that uses AI to monitor and improve the health of animals.
- Edunetix utilizes AI technology to offer personalized education and career advice, tailoring guidance to individual needs.
- Lendsqr employs AI and alternative data sources to make fast and unbiased credit decisions, ensuring a more inclusive lending process.
- IDB Analytics tackles security challenges in conflict-affected regions using AI and geofencing technology to enhance safety measures.
NAIRS aims to boost the growth of AI in Nigeria by providing financial support to researchers and startups, helping them speed up their research and development activities. This aligns with NAIRS’ overarching goal of nurturing a thriving and lasting AI community in the country.
