Data Science Nigeria (DSN), founded by technology executive Olubayo Adekanmbi, has reached more than 900,000 learners through its free artificial intelligence, data science and digital-skills programmes as the organisation marks a decade of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s technology talent base.
The organisation, established when artificial intelligence was still relatively unfamiliar to many Nigerian businesses and institutions, has expanded beyond training into research, startup development, public-sector capacity building and contributions to national AI policy.
Its growing footprint includes more than 100 physical learning hubs, a network of over 1,000 mentors and online learners spread across 96 countries. These figures reflect the scale of an initiative that began by making data science education more accessible to Nigerians and has since developed into a broader platform for AI development across Africa.
According to Brandspur Brand News, DSN’s 10-year journey highlights the growing role of local talent development in Nigeria’s ambition to participate more actively in the global artificial intelligence industry, rather than remain primarily a consumer of technologies developed elsewhere.
Adekanmbi, a technology executive with experience in the telecommunications sector, established the initiative around the belief that Nigerians needed opportunities to acquire advanced technical skills before AI became central to business and public policy. Free training, mentorship and practical projects formed the foundation of its approach.
One of its flagship initiatives, the DSN AI Bootcamp, combines intensive learning with mentorship, competitions and practical applications of machine learning and deep learning. Its focus extends beyond technical instruction to applying AI to socioeconomic challenges relevant to African communities.
The organisation’s activities expanded significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the Mastercard-supported Learn at Home project, DSN says it reached more than eight million learners and developed AI-powered adaptive learning approaches, including solutions designed for feature phones.
It also established an AI research and laboratory centre in Yaba, Lagos, while its AI Startup Lab began supporting entrepreneurs developing artificial intelligence-based products through technical assistance, business training and access to resources and market opportunities.
Research has become another important part of the organisation’s work. DSN researchers have participated in international AI research conferences, including the Conference on Neural Information Processing Systems (NeurIPS) and the International Conference on Learning Representations (ICLR).
The organisation recorded a Best Paper Award at ICLR in 2024 and a Didactic Paper Award at the same conference in 2025. These achievements reflect its efforts to move beyond training and contribute to research discussions shaping the development of artificial intelligence.
DSN has also become involved in Nigeria’s efforts to establish a framework for AI development and governance. It contributed research, workshops and strategic planning to the country’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy and subsequently joined the National AI Collective, a group established to support the implementation of the strategy.
The shift towards policy reflects the growing need for public institutions to understand the technology they are expected to regulate and deploy. Issues surrounding data protection, privacy, accountability and responsible AI use are increasingly relevant as governments and businesses explore ways to incorporate automated systems into their operations.
In 2026, DSN also worked with Microsoft on AI and digital-skills development through the Microsoft Elevate programme. The initiative is designed to equip developers, educators, public-sector professionals and government leaders with foundational AI knowledge, practical skills and an understanding of responsible use.
The Nigeria Data Protection Commission participated in a Microsoft-supported capacity-building programme delivered in collaboration with DSN during the year, focusing on the practical application of AI and data-governance knowledge among regulatory personnel.
The organisation’s anniversary activities will include the 2026 DSN AI Bootcamp, scheduled for October 19 to 23. Under the theme A Decade of Impact. A Future of Possibilities, the hybrid programme is planned to feature five learning tracks, 30 speakers, 300 finalists and more than 10,000 participants.
For Nigeria, the next challenge extends beyond training people to use artificial intelligence. Building a sustainable AI industry will also require research capacity, relevant infrastructure, effective governance and the ability to develop solutions suited to local needs.
Applications in healthcare, agriculture, financial inclusion and public administration are among the areas where AI could address practical challenges, although realising those benefits will depend on implementation, investment and access to appropriate technology.
As DSN enters its second decade, its expanding role across education, research, entrepreneurship and public policy places greater emphasis on translating technical knowledge into measurable economic and social benefits.
The organisation’s experience illustrates how sustained investment in people can help establish the foundations for a technology ecosystem. Whether those foundations can support wider innovation, create opportunities for young Nigerians and strengthen the country’s position in the global AI industry will be an important test of the years ahead.
