Patricia Idakwo

Data Scientist || PhD Researcher

[Patricia Idakwo @akubop]

Registration is open for the @ClimateChangeAI Virtual Summer School 2026!

As an Ambassador for this year’s program, I have a limited number of discount codes to share with peers and colleagues. Send me a DM if you’re interested!

Program details: https://t.co/OdkxUHLvi0

[DSN - Data Science Nigeria @dsn_ai_network]

Best Paper Award at AfricaNLP (@Africa_NLP) 2026

We are proud to share that our research paper, “African Voices Nigeria: 2,500 Hours of Ethically Sourced Speech Data for Four Nigerian Languages”, co-authored by Ife Adebara (@IfeAdebara), Oluwaseun Nifemi (@NifemiOluwaseu2), Olubayo Adekanmbi (@bayoadekanmbi), Rashidat Damilola Sikiru (@o_damilola21), Ololade Anjuwon (@AnjuwonOlolade), Olanrewaju Israel Lawal, Anthony Soronnadi (@tonysoronnadi), John Emeka Eze (@johnemekaeze), and Ewezu Ngim Ngim (@EwezuN46971), has been awarded Best Paper at the 7th Africa NLP Workshop. This event was co-located with the 19th Conference of the European Chapter of the Association for Computational Linguistics (EACL) 2026 in Morocco.

This recognition by the African NLP community celebrates research that is not only rigorous but also rooted in ethical and locally relevant AI solutions. We extend our gratitude to the workshop organisers and the broader African NLP community for this honour.

At Data Science Nigeria (@dsn_ai_network), this recognition reflects a consistent track record of delivering globally competitive research while staying grounded in local relevance. Our work continues to advance the localisation of Artificial Intelligence by building high-quality, ethically sourced datasets and solutions tailored to African contexts. This milestone reinforces our long-term commitment to ensuring AI development in Africa is not only world-class, but also inclusive, representative, and built for the realities of our communities.

Read the full research paper here> https://t.co/0Z9wwAs6LG

#datasciencenigeria #EACL2026 #AfricanVoices #Africanlp

[DSN - Data Science Nigeria @dsn_ai_network]

We’re proud to share that our research paper, African Voices Nigeria: 2,500 Hours of Ethically Sourced Speech Data for Four Nigerian Languages, has been accepted at the 7th @Africa_NLP 2026 Workshop — ranking among the top 4 out of 44 submissions.

The workshop is co-located with the 19th Conference of the European Chapter of the Association for Computational Linguistics (EACL) 2026, taking place in Rabat, Morocco from March 25–28, 2026.

At the heart of this work is a simple but critical gap: most existing speech datasets for African languages fail to reflect how people actually speak.
African Voices addresses this by capturing over 2,500 hours of ethically sourced, real-world speech from native speakers going beyond scripted recordings to represent authentic conversations use across key domain areas.

What this means in practice is better data for building speech recognition systems that are not only more accurate, but also more inclusive and representative of African realities.

@Africa_NLP remains a key convening point for researchers advancing natural language processing for African languages, corpora development, and context-specific AI applications. Being recognized in this space reinforces the growing importance of grounded, locally driven research.

At Data Science Nigeria (@dsn_ai_network), this milestone reflects our broader commitment: advancing research that is deeply rooted in African contexts, expands access, and powers solutions that work for our people.

#DataScienceNigeria #AfricaNLP2026 #AIforGood #AfricanLanguages #ResponsibleAI #EACL2026
@johnemekaeze @UAlberta @equalyz_ai

[DSN - Data Science Nigeria @dsn_ai_network]

@DeepIndaba 2026 – Applications Now Open

The 8th edition of @DeepIndaba, one of Africa’s most important gatherings for the artificial intelligence research community, will take place in Lagos, Nigeria.

Researchers, engineers, founders, and innovators from across the continent will convene to exchange ideas, showcase research, and strengthen the African AI ecosystem.

Date: 2nd – 7th August 2026

Venue: @pau_nigeria, Lagos

Applications are open across six tracks:

• General Delegate
• Workshop Proposals
• Tutorial Speaker Proposals
• African Dataset Submissions
• African Startup Presentations
• Research Paper Submissions

Application deadlines run from March 20 to April 11, depending on the track.

If you are building, researching, or advancing AI in Africa, this is an opportunity to contribute to one of the continent’s most important technical gatherings.

Apply here:
https://t.co/HtBx8LpnHU

#DeepLearningIndaba #AIinAfrica #DataScienceNigeriaAle

[Deep Learning Indaba @DeepIndaba]

Applications for #DLI2026 are officially OPEN!

We are excited to open applications for the annual meeting of the African machine learning and AI community: The Deep Learning Indaba 2026 in Lagos, Nigeria!

⏳ Deadline: 29 March 2026

Apply here: https://t.co/G44imR08Kz
👉 Details: https://t.co/sWI4TgPFer

#DLI2026 #Indaba2026

[Patricia Idakwo @akubop]

@davlanade Congratulations @davlanade 🎉🎉

[Deep Learning Indaba @DeepIndaba]

🌟 That's a Wrap on the Indaba! A Heartfelt Thank You to the Community and See You in Nigeria! 🇳🇬 🌟

What an extraordinary week it has been in Kigali, Rwanda 🇷🇼! For six days, over 1,000 of us came together under the inspiring theme "Urunana – Hand in Hand for AI in Africa." The 7th edition of the Deep Learning Indaba was a powerful testament to the collective dedication of our community.

We could not have done it without you. 🙏

TOur Host:
Our deepest gratitude to our organisers, sponsors, doners, partners, speakers, volunteers and everyone who contribuated to our mission.

Looking ahead, we are thrilled to announce that the next Deep Learning Indaba will be hosted in Nigeria 🇳🇬! We can't wait to bring the spirit of #Urunana to this vibrant AI community.

Thank you for being part of this incredible journey.

➡️ We'll be sharing a report soon, detailing the impact of this edition and the many ways we are continuing to build a sustainable pan-African community of AI expertise. 🌍

#Indaba2025 #AfricanAI #Urunana #AIforAfrica #DLI2025

[Mbuotidem Awak #MS Fabric @mb_awak]

I just shared my experience @DeepIndaba

If you find the time, please give it a read, and don't forget to retweet.

https://t.co/8ZzqzsMw74

[Patricia Idakwo @akubop]

@vukosi @mlittmancs @tmarwala @UPTuks @DSFSI_Research @LelapaAI @DeepIndaba @MasakhaneNLP Congratulations Prof. @vukosi 🎊👏👏👏

[Vukosi Marivate 🇿🇦🚀📊 @vukosi]

We gathered in Kigali 🌍 for the 2025 Deep Learning Indaba. Nearly 3,000 applied, 1,294 joined in person, 400 virtually. 6 days of AI research, debate, teaching & learning. From 300 in 2017 → to a pan-African Baobab tree. 🌳 #DLI2025 @DeepIndaba

[Vukosi Marivate 🇿🇦🚀📊 @vukosi]

News is finally out on #DLI2026

2026 Indaba heads to Nigeria @DeepIndaba

[Deep Learning Indaba @DeepIndaba]

Another important session at #DLI2025.

The Women in Machine Learning (WIML) event was dedicated to an open discussion on the challenges women face in the field, and to exploring potential solutions.

The conversation continued at the community social, where connections were strengthened and new bonds were forged, reinforcing the collaborative spirit of the Indaba.

#DLI2025 #Indaba2025 #Urunana

[Deep Learning Indaba @DeepIndaba]

The poster session at #DLI2025 reflects the Indaba’s mission: building AI in Africa, Urunana (hand in hand).

Researchers from early-career to experienced experts shared work spanning healthcare, African language processing, and environmental and agricultural applications, all with a strong focus on African contexts.

It was an invaluable space for feedback, mentorship, and collaboration, helping presenters refine their methodologies and strengthen the impact of their research.

Explore the posters here: https://t.co/snapYbzzxl

#DLI2025 #Indaba2025 #Urunana

[Patricia Idakwo @akubop]

@abono2000 @IndabaXNigeria @DeepIndaba Thank you!!!

[Patricia Idakwo @akubop]

@llerioluwakiiye @ml_collective Congratulations Ileri!!!

[Deep Learning Indaba @DeepIndaba]

🪘Our Crowdfunding Campaign is LIVE! 🪘
🚀 Help Empower Africa's AI Future: Support Indaba 2025 Participant Grants! 👉https://t.co/vLWRwyiuwx
The heart of the Indaba is its commitment to accessibility. Many brilliant minds across Africa face significant financial barriers like travel and accommodation costs that prevent them from participating in this transformative experience.
We are launching a crowdfunding campaign to directly fund these essential travel and participation grants for students and researchers for the upcoming Indaba in Kigali, Rwanda.
Help us continue this vital work for #Indaba2025 in Kigali.
Donate today and empower Africa's brightest minds to gather, learn, share, and lead the way in AI – Hand in Hand!
More details about our last edition: https://t.co/FUxFzQfz4O

#Indaba2025 #DLI2025 #AfricanAI #Urunana #AIforAfrica #SupportAfricanTalent

[DSN - Data Science Nigeria @dsn_ai_network]

Are you a researcher, data science enthusiast, or aspiring scientist in Nigeria’s AI ecosystem, looking to showcase your work to leading AI professionals?

The @IndabaXNigeria Conference 2025 is back!

IndabaX Nigeria serves as a unifying platform for AI communities across the country, connecting them to the broader African AI movement led by Deep Learning Indaba.

Venue: @SummitUniOffa, Offa
Date: 16th – 17th July, 2025
Theme: Empowering Nigeria’s AI Ecosystem for Sustainable Development

Don’t miss this opportunity to connect, collaborate, and contribute to the future of AI in Africa.

Register now: https://t.co/dIeV7qJWW4

[Patricia Idakwo @akubop]

@flora_oladipupo @iclr_conf @ICBINBWorkshop Congratulations dearie...keep winning💐👏💐👏💐

[Data Science Africa - DSA @dsa_org]

Exciting news!

Registration is now open for the #DSA2025 Summer School in Ibadan! This is a great opportunity to sharpen your data science skills, connect with experts, and collaborate with peers.

🔗 Register now: https://t.co/WT5bIu56hf

[DSN - Data Science Nigeria @dsn_ai_network]

Many groundbreaking ideas never reach their full potential because they stay locked in research papers.

But what if you could turn your research into a product that changes the world?

Join our exclusive 4-week mentorship series this March, where you’ll gain the skills and insights to transform research into real-world innovation.

Learn how to:

1. Write and publish impactful research

2. Turn research into market-ready products

3. Work with top researchers & product experts

Date: Every Friday in March

Time: 3:00 pm (WAT)

Venue: Zoom & Telegram

Register here to save a spot>https://t.co/pADL5cWh9F

#datasciencenigeria #dsnmentorship #dsncommunity