Abdulwaheed Musa. Credit: TheCable.
A Kwara State University (KWASU) lecturer, Abdulwaheed Musa, Head of the Department of Electrical Engineering, has received a National Research Fund (NRF) grant to develop Artificial Intelligence (AI) language models in Nigeria.
According to Jemilat Nasiru of TheCable, Musa, on his X handle, disclosed that he and his team were awarded the grant to develop advanced machine (deep) learning models and algorithms for Natural Language Processing (NLP) tailored towards linguistics characteristics of major Nigerian languages.
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He expressed that for the next two years, his major preoccupation and that of his team would be to work across Nigeria and beyond, training mentees and students, particularly those in the AI field and selected Nigerian languages.
He said the project would deliver a well-developed AI translator, adding that it had the potential to make a significant impact on the field of machine translation and develop AI technologies in the country.
“The outcome of the research project is expected to enhance language accessibility and inclusivity in Nigeria, as well as foster cultural preservation and socio-economic development,” said the don.
The Director of the Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Systems (CAMS) explained further that the project would advance the field of natural language processing and machine translation, “leading to more sophisticated AI language models with broader applications beyond translation.”
Musa expressed optimism that the research will ignite the development of language-related startups and enterprises, creating job opportunities and fostering entrepreneurship in language technology.
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