New AI Initiative Aims to Promote African Languages and Cultures
The Federal Government of Nigeria, in collaboration with key partners, has launched ATLAS Umoja, a pan-African artificial intelligence platform focused on developing large-scale language models that comprehend African languages, cultures, and knowledge systems. This initiative was introduced on Thursday in Abuja, marking an expansion of Nigeria’s N-ATLAS project, a government-supported open-source language model developed by Awarri, a company specializing in artificial intelligence and robotics.
Significance of the Initiative
ATLAS Umoja was officially unveiled during the Seventh Ordinary General Assembly of the African Telecommunications Union Plenipotentiary Conference at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Center. Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, emphasized that this initiative aims to address the stark underrepresentation of African languages in current AI systems. Despite the continent’s rich linguistic diversity, which accounts for about one-third of the world’s languages, less than 2% of these languages are significantly supported by existing AI technologies.
N-ATLAS: A Step Towards AI Inclusivity
Tijani noted that Nigeria first launched the N-ATLAS model at the United Nations General Assembly in 2025 as part of a broader strategy to integrate artificial intelligence into various sectors. The Nigerian government is now working with various partners to extend this foundational project into a continental initiative known as the ATLAS Network, or ATLAS Umoja. “Today, we are pleased to announce that we are taking the next step in collaborating with partners across Africa to develop this continental framework,” stated Tijani.
Bringing Stakeholders Together
The ATLAS platform aims to unite governments, researchers, universities, innovators, and technology companies to collaboratively create language models that resonate with the continent’s unique contexts. Tijani expressed ambition for the ATLAS network to serve as a platform that accelerates the creation of locally relevant AI tools, reflecting Africa’s diverse languages, cultures, and indigenous knowledge.
Investment in Africa’s Digital Future
Highlighting the need for enhanced cooperation and reliable digital infrastructure, Tijani stressed that Africa must capitalize on its youthful population and burgeoning digital ecosystem to play a substantial role in the global technology economy. He believes that with sustained investment in technology infrastructure and digital skills, Africa can significantly influence future technological advancements.
Building an African AI Ecosystem
Silas Adekunle, co-founder and CEO of Awarri, noted that ATLAS is a direct evolution from Nigeria’s N-ATLAS project. He highlighted the platform’s foundational goal of building AI solutions tailored to local languages and economic circumstances. Adekunle asserted that a reliance on predominantly foreign AI systems risks transferring Africa’s data and economic value out of the continent, hampering local development.
A Call for Broad Participation in AI Development
Both Adekunle and GSMA Africa’s Senior Director of Public Policy and Communications, Caroline Mbugua, urged further engagement from African nations to enhance the continent’s role in AI development. Mbugua emphasized the importance of not merely consuming foreign technology but actively shaping how it evolves. Founding members of ATLAS Umoja, including Nigeria, Kenya, Namibia, and Togo, are encouraged to pool their resources and expertise in this transformative endeavor. By supporting African languages through AI, the initiative aims to overcome digital literacy barriers and empower users to engage with technology in familiar languages.
