Let’s be real. The pressure to “make it” in Nigeria is a full-time job. You scroll through Instagram and see your mates “securing the bag.” Your uncle calls to ask, “So, what are you really doing with your life?” It feels like a race against time, and everyone’s looking for a shortcut, a fast track to success.
Many people think that track is in tech. They hear about AI, software development, and machine learning, and they imagine a world reserved for geniuses in Silicon Valley or returnees with foreign accents. It feels distant, complicated, and maybe even a little “artificial.”
But what if I told you the biggest tech revolution in Africa isn’t happening in a garage in California? What if it’s being quietly built in the cool, rolling hills of Jos, Plateau State? And what if the secret ingredient isn’t some complex algorithm, but something you already have?
Stick with me. This isn’t just another success story. This is a blueprint.
The Mission: Moving Beyond Just “Tech”
For years, the model was simple: learn a tech skill, get a remote job, and earn in dollars. It’s a good plan, but it’s incomplete. It positions us as digital factory workers for the rest of the world.
David Enyi, the CEO of B&B Creators and the visionary behind the African Intelligence platform, saw this gap. He asked a bigger question: “What if we stopped just using technology and started building the technology that solves our own problems?”
This isn’t about creating another social media app. This is about building the foundational AI that understands Africa. An AI trained on our languages, our markets, our agriculture, our unique challenges. This is the “grand plan” that sparked the African Intelligence LMS Hackathon.
How It Works: The Hackathon as a Blueprint
This hackathon was more than a competition; it was a high-pressure ecosystem in a bottle. It’s where theory meets reality. The African Intelligence Hackathon was a masterclass in how to build a tech ecosystem from the ground up. https://youtu.be/De-gVLVQow8
Step 1: The Spark (Collaboration is King)
The first thing that stood out was the collaboration. This wasn’t a solo effort. It was a coalition of the willing, with key players like Axia Hub, Bluehouse Technologies, and Zeustek ICT coming together. Crucially, it had the official endorsement of the Plateau State ICT Development Agency (PICTDA). The DG, Datong Dominic Gwaman, spoke about the importance of grooming local tech talent to solve local problems. When government and private sector align, something special happens.
Step 2: The Fire (Intense Innovation)
For three days, brilliant minds from across the state—coders, designers, and strategists—were locked in a room. The mission: build innovative applications on the African Intelligence LMS. The energy was electric. It was a mix of intense focus, collaborative chaos, and the buzz of creation. This is where you see the real talent of Nigerian youth—the ability to innovate under pressure.
Step 3: The Payoff (Real Investment in Talent)
There was a ₦1,000,000 prize pool to incentivize participants to go above and beyond.
- 1st Place (₦500,000): Team African Wraps
- 2nd Place (₦300,000): Team AI Avengers
- 3rd Place (₦200,000): Team Algorise
This is critical. It sends a clear message: your skills have real, monetary value. It’s a direct investment in the talent, turning a passion project into a viable career path. As one participant, Michael Ikechukwu, proudly said, “In less than two days, we came up with a product. I’m proud of myself.”
The Unexpected Twist: Your Biggest Advantage Isn’t Your Skill
Here’s the part they don’t tell you in those “Learn to Code in 6 Weeks” ads.
The future of AI isn’t just about who can write the cleanest code. It’s about who has the best data. An AI is only as smart as the information it’s trained on. An AI trained on data from California will never truly understand the needs of a farmer in Plateau.
This is where the twist comes in. Your greatest asset isn’t your technical skill; it’s your context.
The final demonstration of the hackathon wasn’t a flashy app; it was a practical tool. David Enyi walked into a greenhouse, pointed a phone at some pepper plants, and the African Intelligence AI began analyzing the crop’s health in real-time. It could detect diseases and recommend optimal planting periods.
This is the “wow” moment. This is contextual AI. It’s technology built for our own reality. The AI that will revolutionize African agriculture won’t be built by Google. It will be built by someone who understands the difference between the rainy season and the dry season, who knows the local market prices, and who has seen the challenges firsthand.
It will be built by you.
Your Invitation to Join the Movement
The African Intelligence Hackathon was more than an event; it was featured on NTA Network News, a national validation of this homegrown movement.
This is your invitation. The journey from consumer to creator has begun. The goal is no longer just to get a job in tech, but to build the tech that will define our future. It starts with learning the right skills, connecting with the right community, and believing that your unique African experience is not a liability, but a superpower.
The platform is here. The community is growing. The mission is clear.
Are you ready to build?
Learn more about our mission and how you can get involved at www.africanintelligence.tech and follow us at @africanintelligencelms.
1 comment
This is a bomb literally… who’d have even imagined. Keep up the good work!