The Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy yesterday announced the launch of the Nigerian Atlas for Languages & AI at Scale (N-ATLAS), a groundbreaking open-source multilingual large language model. N-ATLAS is designed to understand and generate Nigeria’s diverse voices, ensuring that the country’s linguistic richness is preserved and reflected in the global Artificial Intelligence (AI) ecosystem.

The announcement was made on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80) in New York, where the Ministry is organising a series of events showcasing critical initiatives deployed by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy. 

Powered by Awarri, and developed with support from The Gates Foundation, N-ATLAS represents Nigeria’s bold step to ensure no voice is left behind in the age of Artificial Intelligence. With over 500 languages spoken across the nation, the initiative will not only safeguard Nigeria’s cultural and linguistic diversity, but also provide a platform for innovation in local languages that can transform education, health, commerce, and governance.

Speaking on the launch, Honourable Minister of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy, Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani, said: “N-ATLAS is more than a language model; it is a national commitment to unity, inclusion, and global contribution. By building this open resource, we are putting the voices of Nigerians, and by extension Africans, at the heart of the digital future. This initiative demonstrates our resolve to shape AI in a way that reflects our people and our aspirations.”

Dr. Tijani further noted: “Our goal is to advance natural language processing for under-represented languages, and in doing so, showcase Nigeria’s leadership in building digital public goods that will empower the continent and contribute to global AI development.”

N-ATLAS builds on the Ministry’s strategic commitment to digital inclusion, aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda by deploying innovation to drive inclusive growth, productivity, and prosperity. The project also reinforces Nigeria’s role as a continental leader in AI, opening opportunities for collaboration across Africa’s multilingual landscape and positioning the nation as a key contributor to global AI advancement.

Click the link here to access the open source model: http://b.link/N-ATLAS.