NAIR scheme: 45 startups get N225m grants

The Federal Government has announced the selection of 45 startups for the Nigeria Artificial Intelligence Research (NAIR) scheme, each receiving a N5 million grant to develop their AI projects. In all, the 45 startups will get N225 million as grants.

The NAIR Scheme seeks to promote a sustainable AI environment, reflecting Nigeria’s goal of innovation across key sectors. The selection process involved 26 global experts, ensuring excellence.

The Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, who revealed the startups, said the selected AI researchers cut across healthcare, agriculture, finance, and education, saying they can propel Nigeria’s tech landscape onto the global stage.

He added that the scheme is aimed at fostering a vibrant and sustainable AI ecosystem in Nigeria by providing grants and facilitating knowledge sharing and collaboration among individuals and organisations in the AI industry.

Describing the selected 45 as the best out of many that indicated interest in the scheme, the Minister via X said: “Nigeria’s commitment to fostering innovation and leveraging AI for societal advancement has been met with an overwhelming response.

“Our call for applications yielded a wealth of groundbreaking proposals spanning diverse sectors crucial to the nation’s growth in agriculture, healthcare, education, finance, security, and environmental sustainability.

“After a rigorous evaluation process, with the help of 26 distinguished Nigerian AI experts from across the world, we have identified some exceptional proposals from individuals who are excelling in the field of AI research.

“From healthcare to agriculture, finance to education, these brilliant researchers are poised to propel Nigeria’s tech landscape onto the global stage. These proposals tackle some of our most pressing challenges and offer the potential to revolutionise industries, empower communities, and unlock a future full of possibilities.”

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I am delighted to announce the list of National AI Research Grant Scheme ( NAIRS) 45 grantees here https://t.co/6lbUH2BrLE

After a rigorous evaluation process, with the help of 25 distinguished Nigerian AI experts from across the world, we have identified some exceptional… pic.twitter.com/dXbOc1HW5N

— Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani (@bosuntijani) December 19, 2023

The programme opened from October 13th to November 15th and witnessed an outpouring of applications, showcasing the depth and breadth of Nigeria’s AI talent.

Among the 45 chosen, 11 startups stand out, poised to disrupt their respective fields:

• Nurse Oge (Bringing AI-powered patient monitoring, diagnosis, and treatment closer to communities);
• Farmspeak Technology Limited (Leveraging AI-driven insights to combat poultry mortality and enhance climate resilience);
• Lendsqr (Democratizing access to finance through AI and alternative data sources, paving the way for faster, bias-free credit decisions);
• Edunetix (Shaping the future of learning with AI-powered personalised education and career guidance);
• IDB Analytics (utilising AI and geofencing technology to tackle security challenges in conflict zones);
• Gwin Technologies Limited (Putting AI in the palm of your hand with a smart mobile diagnostic tool for animal health) among others.

The minister noted that the grants are a significant investment in Nigeria’s AI ecosystem with the potential to boost the tech sector, create jobs, solve pressing challenges, and improve the lives of millions.