Impact

I am driven by the belief that artificial intelligence should benefit everyone. Through my roles in various organizations, I focus on democratizing AI across Africa – empowering underrepresented communities with technology, building local AI ecosystems, and tackling continental challenges with machine learning. Below are the key initiatives and accomplishments that highlight this commitment:

Ai4Innov – Empowering the Next Generation with AI

As VP & Co-Founder of Ai4Innov, I help lead our non-profit mission to advance innovation through AI education and inclusive technology solutions. Founded in 2020, Ai4Innov is dedicated to making AI accessible to underserved communities and nurturing the next generation of African innovators. Two flagship projects illustrate our impact:

TechEduc Project: Tech Education for Youth in Benin

In partnership with Direct Aid for Vital Education (DAVE), we launched TechEduc, a pilot initiative in Benin aimed at enhancing education for vulnerable children by teaching them robotics and artificial intelligence. This program is not just about coding – it’s about inspiring young minds and showing children that they can aspire to careers in technology. Key goals of TechEduc include:

• Inspire & Shift Perspectives: Beyond technical training, we strive to help children realize their potential. We want them to see that they have the talent and ability to pursue careers in technology if they choose, no matter their background.

• Educate: We provide foundational skills in robotic programming and artificial intelligence. Using an educational robot called Thymio (developed by EPFL), along with computer simulations, we introduce students to programming concepts through fun, interactive tools like Visual Programming Language (VPL) and Scratch. These activities build logical reasoning and coding skills in middle and high school students from orphanages and underserved communities.

• Reduce Inequality: TechEduc is designed to offer equitable access to tech education. By bringing robotics kits and AI training to marginalized children (such as those in orphanages we partnered with for the pilot), we work to bridge the digital divide and ensure that talent is nurtured everywhere, not just in well-resourced schools.

• Prepare for the Future: We equip young people with crucial digital skills needed to succeed in an evolving, tech-driven world. By learning coding and AI early, these students gain confidence and competencies for future education and career opportunities.

The pilot phase of TechEduc has been a success – launched in Benin with two local orphanages – and we even documented the journey in a launch video. This is just the beginning: our vision is to expand TechEduc to more regions, continually adapt the curriculum, and reach thousands of children across Africa. Join us on this journey to shape these children’s perspectives on technology and give them a brighter future! 🌍💡

Inclusive Fashion AI (InFashAI): Championing Diversity in AI Data

Ai4Innov also addresses inclusion in AI through the Inclusive Fashion AI project (InFashAI), which I co-founded to tackle bias in AI algorithms related to the fashion industry. The challenge is clear: modern AI models in fashion (for tasks like image classification, style recommendations, and trend prediction) are only as good as the data they learn from. Unfortunately, most public fashion image datasets lack diversity – for example, they contain very few images of African clothing or styles. This under-representation leads to AI that doesn’t generalize well to African fashion, limiting its usefulness and fairness. It raises ethical concerns and perpetuates a kind of “hyper-specialization” where AI works only for the mainstream data it’s given, failing on data outside that distribution.

InFashAI aims to change this by building a much more representative dataset of global fashion, starting with a focus on Africa. By curating and open-sourcing large collections of images of African fashion, we provide the raw material needed to teach algorithms about diverse styles and cultures. This will enable AI systems to understand and serve African fashion just as effectively as Western fashion, making the technology inclusive of different cultures.

Our first milestone is the release of InFashAIv1, an initial dataset containing 15,716 images of African fashion along with metadata (titles, descriptions, etc.). This dataset – available publicly on our GitHub – is a foundation for researchers and developers to create AI models that recognize and celebrate African clothing styles. By sharing InFashAIv1 openly, we hope it becomes the backbone for new AI tools tailored to African fashion – from better recommendation engines for local designers, to more inclusive computer vision models that accurately classify attire from all over the world. 

Through Ai4Innov, I remain committed to both educating the next generation and ensuring AI systems are inclusive. Whether it’s a child in Benin learning to program a robot, or an algorithm learning from African dress styles, our goal is the same: empower people who may be overlooked by the AI revolution.

ISHEERO – Building an AI Ecosystem in Benin

As VP of Corporate and Institutional Ecosystem at ISHEERO, I focus on transforming Benin into a thriving hub for artificial intelligence and data science. ISHEERO is an initiative with a multifaceted mission to accelerate AI adoption and talent development in Benin. In this role, my responsibilities include forging partnerships, guiding strategy, and implementing programs that solidify Benin’s presence on the AI map. 

Our efforts at ISHEERO can be summarized in three pillars:

• Train, Mentor, and Inspire: We run training programs, workshops, and mentorship initiatives to equip young Beninese with AI skills. By nurturing local talent in machine learning and data science, we create new career pathways for youth and inspire them to become tech leaders. I have helped design bootcamps and courses that allow students and young professionals to learn from experts and gain hands-on experience with AI projects.

• Build a Local AI Ecosystem: We are actively building a sustainable data science and AI ecosystem in Benin. This means setting up innovation labs, fostering tech communities, and encouraging startups. A strong local ecosystem will enable Benin to serve as a "laboratory" for international AI projects – attracting research partnerships and pilot programs from around the world. By improving infrastructure and collaboration networks, we make it easier for global AI initiatives to be tested and implemented locally, positioning Benin as a leader in African AI innovation.

• Promote AI Adoption in Industry: ISHEERO works closely with corporations and institutions to raise awareness about the importance of AI in improving business operations and competitiveness. We organize seminars and consulting sessions for companies to discover how AI can optimize their processes – from agriculture to finance to healthcare – and encourage them to invest in AI solutions. In my role, I engage with corporate partners to identify use-cases where AI can drive operational performance, and help them connect with local AI talent to implement these solutions. By demonstrating success stories and ROI of AI projects, we aim to shift mindsets so that Beninese enterprises embrace AI as a tool for growth.

Through these efforts, ISHEERO is fostering a home-grown community of AI practitioners and enlightened business leaders. The ultimate goal is a self-sustaining AI ecosystem in Benin – one that continuously generates skilled experts, innovative startups, impactful research, and jobs, thereby creating opportunities and improving lives. I’m proud to contribute to a future where Benin becomes a beacon of AI-driven innovation in Africa.

GeoAI-Africa – Geospatial AI for Africa

As a Co-founder of GeoAI-Africa, I help guide a grassroots community of technologists and researchers using geospatial machine learning to address some of Africa’s most pressing challenges. GeoAI-Africa’s vision is to leverage the power of location-based data (such as satellite imagery, maps, and geospatial datasets) combined with AI to drive solutions in areas like climate action and food security. In this initiative, my role involves both technical leadership and community-building:

• Tackling Climate and Agricultural Challenges: We harness AI models to analyze geospatial data for climate change adaptation, environmental monitoring, and agriculture. For example, our community members work on projects that use satellite imagery and machine learning to predict crop yields and detect drought conditions, helping farmers and policymakers make informed decisions. By focusing on these areas, GeoAI-Africa contributes to solutions that improve resilience and food security for communities across the continent.

• Grassroots Community Empowerment: A core principle of GeoAI-Africa is that local problems are best solved by those who understand the context. We’ve built a grassroots network of students, professionals, and enthusiasts passionate about geospatial AI. Through open collaboration, knowledge sharing, and mentorship, we empower local talent to take the lead in projects. Our community members span several African countries, creating a rich exchange of ideas and expertise. Together, we are cultivating homegrown solutions and encouraging cross-country collaboration in AI.

• Workshops and Knowledge Sharing: To spread expertise and enthusiasm for geospatial AI, we organize workshops and training sessions at major AI events. This includes hosting workshops at Deep Learning Indaba (one of Africa’s premier AI conferences) and Applied Machine Learning Days (AMLD). In these sessions, we introduce participants to geospatial datasets and machine learning techniques, showcase successful GeoAI projects, and spark discussions on using AI for social good. By participating in such events, GeoAI-Africa not only shares knowledge but also puts African geospatial challenges and innovations in the global spotlight.

GeoAI-Africa exemplifies how cutting-edge technology like AI can be combined with local insight to make a difference. As co-founder, I’ve witnessed firsthand how a supportive community and the right data can unleash creative solutions. By enabling collaboration at the grassroots level, we turn data into action for sustainable development.

Looking Ahead: Continuing the Mission

From education and inclusion in AI (Ai4Innov), to ecosystem building in Benin (ISHEERO), to applying AI for sustainability (GeoAI-Africa), my journey is unified by a single purpose: democratizing AI for the benefit of vulnerable communities, especially in Africa. I firmly believe that talent is everywhere, but opportunities are not – and that technology can level this playing field. Through these initiatives, I strive to create opportunities, inspire a generation of African AI leaders, and ensure that advanced technologies like AI serve all of humanity, not just a few.

My commitment is ongoing. In the coming years, I plan to: expand educational programs like TechEduc to more countries, and launch similar projects for underrepresented domains, strengthen Benin’s AI ecosystem with new partnerships and research collaborations, to tackle more challenges through community-driven innovation.

Together, we can transform lives with AI. Whether you are a student, professional, organization, or just an interested supporter, I invite you to join us in this mission. By sharing knowledge, investing in local talent, and developing inclusive technologies, we can ensure that the AI revolution lifts up every corner of Africa – sparking creativity, economic growth, and sustainable development across the continent. This is the future of AI that I am working towards, and I am excited to continue this impactful journey.