00:00As nations across Africa embrace technological progress, the need for skilled AI professionals
00:12is surging.
00:13Educational institutions are rising to the occasion, preparing the next generation of
00:18tech talents to meet the need.
00:20In Nigeria, Curators University, located in Modakeke, Oshum State, Southwest Nigeria,
00:26is leading the drive.
00:28This pioneering institution is the first in the country and on the continent dedicated
00:32solely to artificial intelligence.
00:35The brain behind it is tech expert Olusho Laamuchon.
00:38When I first left Futa as a graduate, I moved to Microsoft and I saw how education needed
00:47to be transformed to meet the standards of the industry.
00:51And it was a time where Microsoft was just driving its machine learning and artificial
00:55intelligence programs.
00:57So we went on, sometimes in 2016, to begin to envision what a university that is solely
01:02focused on artificial intelligence would look like.
01:05We were, of course, earlier than our time, so our focus was on data science and machine learning.
01:10The university is due to begin academic session in January, starting first with diploma courses
01:16before delving into degree programs.
01:20Some software engineers who are seeking to broaden their knowledge in artificial intelligence
01:25have already enrolled at the university and are waiting for when the doors of the institute
01:30will be opened for them to begin formal classes.
01:32So I want to study the 3D printing and polymer science at Curators University because at Curators
01:42University, I will be able to integrate the 3D with artificial intelligence to enhance the
01:49context performance for building materials and infrastructures that can enhance Africa.
01:57Nigeria is investing big in artificial intelligence.
02:00Last year, the government launched its national AI strategy with a plan to use the technology
02:05to boost the country's economy and make Nigeria a global tech leader.
02:09And through its artificial intelligence research scheme, the country's national information technology
02:15development agency, NIDDA, is providing funding grants to startups involved in AI development.
02:21Even Google has announced a $2.1 million funding program to develop AI talents around the country.
02:27The technology ecosystem, we would have failed our people and the future generation if we sleep
02:36on artificial intelligence because these are a set of technologies that will control what
02:42you think, how you think, how we do literally everything.
02:48And folks will wake up in five years and ask not just me as the minister but also you, Tomiwa,
02:54and every ecosystem leader, what were we doing when this thing started.
02:59The horizon looks bright for Curators University but the journey is certainly not going to be
03:04be a smooth one.
03:05The horizon looks bright for Curators University but the future is certainly not going to be
03:06a smooth one.
03:07The horizon looks bright for Curators University but the future is certainly not going to be
03:08a smooth one.
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