From Sani Gazas Chinade, Damaturu
The Yobe State University (YSU) in partnership with Google Search is hosting a five-day workshop on Artificial Intelligence (AI) research for about 110 students from the North Eastern part of the country.
According to the lead investigator of the programme Dr Bashir Maina, from the Computer Science Department of the University, said the programme would equip students with the skills and knowledge to become AI innovators and contribute to solving local and global challenges arise.
Dr Bashir, said Google recognised Africans as a historically underrepresented group in the field of computing research accordingly.
The lead investigator said, they proposed to Google a programme to bring together students from across northeastern Nigeria and engage them in hands-on training in AI research accordingly.
“We specicalky focusing on machine learning (ML) and natural language processing (NLP),”
Dr Maina added that the workshop would feature facilitators from 11 different countries across Europe, Asia and Africa atlarge.
“According to him these experts will share their unique insights and approaches to problem-solving, fostering a comprehensive learning experience accordingly.”
Maina said, many students believed they could only be consumers of AI-based solutions, not innovators themselvess.
According to him, the programme aimed at shifting that narrative by empowering them to become innovators, capable of proposing solutions and contributing meaningfully to the field of study.