About NCAIR
The National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR) is one of NITDA’s special purpose vehicles created to promote research and development on emerging technologies and their practical application in areas of Nigerian national interest. The centre, a state-of-the-art facility, along with its modern digital fabrication laboratory (FabLab), was commissioned on November 13th, 2020. It is co-located in the same building complex with the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI), at No. 790 Cadastral Zone, Wuye District, Abuja.<br><br>
NCAIR as a digital innovation and research facility is focused on Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics and Drones, Internet of Things (IoT), and other emerging technologies, aimed at transforming the Nigerian digital economy, in line with the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS). NCAIR is also focused on creating a thriving ecosystem for innovation-driven entrepreneurship (IDE), job creation, and national development.
Our Core Values
Innovation
We foster an environment for trailblazing ideas and solutions.
Collaboration
We build partnerships and connections to amplify our impact.
Inclusiveness
We are committed to an equitable society through technology.
Entrepreneurship
We enable technology commercialisation and enterprise.
Our Strategic Priorities
Key Research Focus Areas
Natural Language Processing
Computer Vision
Robotics
Machine Learning
Data Science
Health AI
Agriculture AI
Education AI
Finance AI
Trade AI
UAV
IoT
Blockchain
Finance AI
Security AI
Dr Olubunmi Ajala
National Director of NCAIR (National Centre for Artificial Intelligence – Nigeria)
He is a Data Scientist and an Economist with high-level experience providing expertise in national strategy, policies, and programs relating to Artificial Intelligence (AI) Data, Research, and Digital Public Infrastructure. He leverages research and data-driven insights to craft strategies for enhancing productivity using digital technologies.
He previously lectured and served as Learning Analytics Lead at the School of Economics, Finance and Accounting, Coventry University (UK) and also facilitated several Data Science training in Nigeria and Namibia. He is a member of the International AI Safety Team, working on the “State of the Science Report,” and was part of the Technological Innovation Group of the AU-EU Research and Innovation Advisory Group for “Mainstreaming Research and Innovation in Africa-European Cooperation”.
Some of his other projects include
- Led the data team that designed the Composite Cultural Vibrancy Index for 12 African countries
- Led the team that built the Country and Product Opportunity Index for African trade.
- Developed a predictive model to detect HIV from TB (using AI),
- Built an Algorithm for identifying AI researchers of Nigerian descent
- Built an algorithm for Anomaly Detection for Personal Banking Customers, and tracking Inflation via E-commerce websites.
Dr. Ajala is the lead author of the article that used Twitter data to analyse public sentiments about the Africa Free Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) and has extensive experience and competence in handling structured and unstructured data and developing Machine Learning algorithms.
