The 2025 Bootcamp marked another defining milestone in DSN’s bold mission to train one million AI talents within ten years and position Africa as a global hub for inclusive and sustainable technological innovation.

This year’s edition attracted over 32,000 applications from across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, a record that underscores the growing national appetite for AI capacity development and the trust DSN has earned as the continent’s foremost AI learning and research non-profit.

Through a rigorous multi-stage process that assessed technical aptitude, problem-solving potential, and collaborative mindset, only 150 of the most outstanding learners emerged as finalists and were invited to the fully residential, all-expenses-paid Bootcamp hosted at the University of Lagos.

The Bootcamp’s curriculum was designed to deliver an end-to-end learning experience that merged technical depth with social impact. Participants explored cutting-edge themes such as Generative and Agentic AI, Geospatial Intelligence, Digital Public Infrastructure, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, and Responsible AI.

The training followed a structured model that progressed from foundational sessions to advanced project development, enabling participants to transition quickly from concept to deployable prototypes with real-world relevance.

The approach reflected DSN’s enduring philosophy of “learning, building, and sharing,” ensuring that every participant not only gained world-class knowledge but also understood how to apply it toward solving Africa’s most pressing challenges.

The Bootcamp was powered by a strong coalition of global partners and industry leaders, including Microsoft, Meta, MTN, Google DeepMind, Boaz Integrated Energy, Hyperspace, NVIDIA, NitHub, EqualyzAI, TechCabal, Askya Investment, the Fintech Association of Nigeria, and the University of Lagos. These organizations brought together expertise, resources, and mentorship, making the programme a world-class experience.

In all, 32 renowned experts from across the globe facilitated technical and strategy sessions, drawing from institutions such as the Gates Foundation, Microsoft, Google, Meta, Mastercard Foundation, Access Holdings Plc, Interswitch Group, MTN, PwC, PIC, ARM, the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, WorldPop, and the University of Southampton.

Among the high points of the Bootcamp were the masterclasses delivered by some of the most respected voices in technology and development.

Dr. Uyi Stewart, Chief Data and Technology Officer at Data.org, shared an inspiring keynote on “AI for Inclusive Growth,” emphasizing how data and technology can accelerate social progress.

Olubunmi Okunowo and Toyosi Odukoya led an engaging session on how open-source frameworks and Digital Public Infrastructure can enable national development and inclusive service delivery.

Dr. Chris Nnanatu’s presentation on “Powering Africa’s Growth with Location Intelligence” highlighted the transformative power of geospatial data for economic and environmental planning.

Collectively, these sessions underscored the thematic focus of this year’s Bootcamp, that Africa’s future in AI must be both inclusive and indigenous, built on solutions that reflect local realities and global best practices.

Beyond classroom learning, the participants participated in a high-impact Hackathon designed to convert theory into tangible solutions.

Working in multidisciplinary teams, the learners tackled real-world problems across healthcare, agriculture, financial inclusion, and public service delivery sectors.

One of the most inspiring moments came from EqualyzAI, a DSN-incubated startup, which showcased its pioneering work on localizing Small Language Models (SLMs) for African languages.

The demonstration aligned with DSN’s ongoing work in AI for social good and reflected the broader vision of building equitable digital futures for Africa’s linguistically diverse population.

The Bootcamp culminated in an awards ceremony celebrating excellence, creativity, and community spirit.

The DSN Community at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) emerged as the AI School of the Year, a recognition sponsored by Boaz Integrated Energy and Hyperspace, and received a $1,000 grant to establish a mini AI library that will serve as a lasting legacy of continuous learning on campus.

Individual awards also highlighted exceptional performance: the Mr. & Ms. Algorithm Awards, sponsored by Microsoft, celebrated participants who demonstrated commitment and core values of DSN Community; Best Academic Poster, sponsored by Google DeepMind; Best Hackathon Project, sponsored by MTN Foundation; and Best Project Participation, also supported by Microsoft, all rewarded brilliance and consistency with tiered cash prizes.

In addition, every participant received a Microsoft-sponsored certification voucher, a tangible step that enhances employability and global recognition in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.

Throughout the Bootcamp, industry partners played a visible role not only as sponsors but as co-educators, mentors, and advocates for inclusive innovation.

Their contributions underscored a shared belief that Africa’s competitiveness in the global digital economy depends on collective investment in human capital and home-grown innovation.

The partnership between DSN and Microsoft continued to provide the foundational bridge between learning and opportunity, through advanced skilling, access to certification, and exposure to real-world AI applications.

In his closing remarks, Dr. Olubayo Adekanmbi, Data Science Nigeria’s founder and chief executive officer, reflected on the transformative journey of the AI Bootcamp since its inception.

He described the 2025 edition as reaffirming the belief that Africa’s future will not be imported but intelligently built by its people.

He urged participants to act as ambassadors of knowledge, extend the mentorship culture, and replicate the Bootcamp’s impact within their local communities.

“We have built not just coders but catalysts, people who will use AI to solve Africa’s most pressing challenges,” he said. “As you have freely received, freely give.”

The 8th Data Science Nigeria AI Bootcamp is a powerful testament to the potential of strategic collaboration, purposeful learning, and inclusive access.

It represents a generation of young innovators equipped with technical competence and a shared vision of using AI as a tool for national transformation and global relevance.

As the participants return to their campuses, startups, and communities, they carry the collective energy of an ecosystem determined to make AI work for all, ensuring that Africa’s intelligence revolution remains open, inclusive, and transformative.

Accion is supporting Dashen Bank to build an innovation hub that aims to expand digital banking services to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) through a range of new products and a focus on women-owned businesses.

Ethiopia’s nearly two million MSMEs are important drivers of its economy, yet only 6% of microenterprises and 1.9% of small enterprises have access to formal credit. The financing gap in the MSME sector of the country is estimated to be $4.2 billion. 

Unemployment, low incomes, and a lack of financial education remain key reasons for a lack of access to formal financial services. 

Again, only 39% of women — compared to 55% of men — have an account at a formal financial institution, preventing them from accessing the evolving digital financial ecosystem and contributing to the country’s economic growth.

Dashen Bank has long been at the forefront of introducing innovative digital financial products and services in Ethiopia. It was one of the first banks in the country to launch a digital wallet, which helps small business owners make frictionless transactions. 

Now, with the new innovation hub being built with Accion, the bank aims to develop new solutions, embedded in existing supply chains for MSMEs in Ethiopia that still largely transact in cash, have few assets, and as a result, remain largely invisible to big banks. 

The innovation hub is one of the strategic pillars of the Bank’s sixth strategy plan designed to enhance its capacity to support MSMEs. This move is aimed at driving financial inclusion and fostering economic development through innovative digital solutions.

Asfaw Alemu, chief executive officer at Dashen Bank shared, “Despite their critical contribution to the country’s economic growth, small businesses, particularly those led by women, face significant financing challenges. This is largely due to high reliance on cash-based transactions leading to insufficient formal financial records of their business operations and women’s lack of ownership over assets to meet collateral requirements. 

“Through this partnership, we seek to address these challenges, build our operational capacity, enhance our credit offerings to meet the needs of small business owners, and develop a range of digital products and value propositions to help them access the resources they need to grow their businesses successfully. This landmark project underscores our commitment to staying always one step ahead, further cementing our reputation as an industry leader in Ethiopia’s financial sector.”

According to Yohannes Million, chief digital and information officer at Dashen Bank, “Our innovation hub aims to serve as a catalyst for empowering MSMEs by providing them with tailored digital banking solutions. Based in a dedicated facility, it will drive change as a platform where technology and financial services intersect to fuel progress and improve operational efficiency for our customers.”

Through strategic partnerships with those supply chains, Accion will help Dashen develop new products designed for MSMEs, using AI to crunch new types of data and develop new credit scoring models that are better suited to the realities of MSMEs, including those that are women-owned. 

Backed by this new data and extensive research, the innovation hub will build solutions such as credit from their existing suppliers via embedded finance products, and non-financial tools, such as business management support.

Dashen Bank has recently issued a tender to initiate the construction of this forward-looking facility. The innovation hub represents another bold step by the bank toward transforming Ethiopia’s banking landscape, demonstrating its unwavering commitment to harnessing the power of technology to drive progress and support economic empowerment. 

As part of its future roadmap, Dashen Bank will organize an innovation workshop for its leadership and staff, which will explore opportunities in cutting-edge technologies, including artificial intelligence, in collaboration with a globally recognized technology partner.

Raliat Sunmonu, vice president, Middle East and Africa, Accion Advisory said, “Ethiopia is one of Africa’s fastest-growing economies, and small businesses play a vital role in propelling its growth. 

“Through this collaboration with Dashen Bank – a leader in financial innovation – and other strategic partners, we are helping build a more inclusive ecosystem for MSMEs in Ethiopia. Together, we can deploy artificial intelligence and other tech tools to help remove bias and other roadblocks faced by micro, small, and medium enterprises, especially those led by women.”

Subhashini Chandran, senior vice president of Social Impact for Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth said: “Ethiopia is at a pivotal point in its journey to drive economic growth through inclusive and relevant services for micro and small businesses. Digital financial services are a critical component of that journey. 

“For the last decade, the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth has been working to advance financial inclusion around the world. We are excited to partner with Accion and Dashen Bank to develop inclusive financial services that can support the growth and resilience of small business owners in Ethiopia.”

This initiative is part of Accion’s 8-year partnership with the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth that supports the transformation of financial service providers, digital platforms, and fintechs, and aims to help 23 million people across 25 countries benefit from the digital economy.