National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), the Nigeria’s dedicated hub for AI and 4IR technologies under NITDA, has taken another important step in expanding access to inclusive digital tools. On Hugging Face, NCAIR has recently updated Igbo-ASR and Hausa-ASR models, alongside progress on Yoruba-ASR, strengthening its focus on indigenous language technologies.

This work is innovative in its direct response to one of Africa’s most pressing AI challenges: the underrepresentation of local languages in global datasets and tools. By making these speech recognition models openly available, NCAIR is enabling developers, researchers, and entrepreneurs to create solutions that reflect Nigeria’s cultural and linguistic diversity.

The initiative also aligns with NCAIR’s broader programs, which include the AI Fund with Google, research grants targeting key sectors such as health, agriculture, and education, and capacity-building projects designed to train the next generation of AI professionals. Each of these efforts underscores NCAIR’s role in positioning Nigeria as a driver of responsible, inclusive, and practical AI innovation.

As open-source contributions like these grow, they not only expand opportunities for local adoption but also ensure that Nigeria’s voice is present in the global AI ecosystem.