The Federal Government of Nigeria and its continental partners on Wednesday launched ATLAS Umoja AI, a Pan-African artificial intelligence initiative designed to ensure African languages, cultures and knowledge systems are reflected in the next generation of AI technologies.

The initiative was unveiled at the 7th Ordinary Session of the African Telecommunications Union (ATU) Conference of Plenipotentiaries (CPL-26) in Abuja, where African leaders and technology stakeholders called for closer collaboration to build AI tools tailored to the continent’s needs.

The launch marks the expansion of Nigeria’s Nigerian Atlas for Languages & AI at Scale (N-ATLAS), which the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy introduced at the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York in September last year as the Africa’s first government-backed open-source large language model.

The new ATLAS Umoja AI extends the initiative across the continent through partnerships involving governments, researchers, startups and industry players.

Speaking at the event, Vice President Kashim Shettima, said Africa had reached a defining moment in its digital journey and must work together to shape the future of global telecommunications and artificial intelligence.

Represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hadejia, the Vice President said digital technologies had become central to national development, adding that broadband infrastructure, AI, cloud computing, satellite communications and secure digital networks now occupy the same strategic importance as roads, railways and electricity.

“Our future depends on collaboration. We must work together to expand affordable connectivity, strengthen cybersecurity, promote responsible AI governance, harmonise standards, improve spectrum management and accelerate digital trade across our continent,” he said.

Shettima added that Nigeria remained committed to investing in broadband expansion, digital infrastructure, innovation, AI, cybersecurity and digital public infrastructure, stressing that Africa must speak with one voice in global technology discussions.

“For too long, global technology policies have often been developed without adequate representation of African priorities. That must change,” the Vice President noted.

In his address, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, said the new continental platform was conceived to address the under-representation of African languages in modern AI systems despite the continent accounting for nearly one-third of the world’s languages.

He noted that fewer than two per cent of African languages are meaningfully supported by current AI models.

“Today, I am pleased to announce that, together with partners across Africa, we are taking the next step by expanding this initiative into a continental framework; the ATLAS Network,” Tijani said.

According to him, the platform will accelerate the development of locally relevant large language models in Africa, by Africa and for Africa by bringing together governments, academia, innovators and ecosystem partners.

He urged all ATU member states to join the initiative, saying Africa has an opportunity not only to adopt AI but also to shape its future.

The minister also thanked the Global System for Mobile Association (GSMA) for supporting the initiative, describing its partnership as instrumental to the project’s emergence.

Speaking on the initiative, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Awarri, Silas Adekunle, explained that “Umoja”, a Swahili word meaning “unity”, was chosen to reflect the project’s Pan-African vision.

He said ATLAS Umoja AI grew out of the success of Nigeria’s N-ATLAS project.

Adekunle disclosed that about 5,000 developers had already built applications using the Nigerian model, demonstrating that African startups can develop globally relevant AI technologies.

According to him, many African developers previously depended on foreign AI models, resulting in data leaving the continent while economic value was created elsewhere.

“This is about building an ecosystem and driving the African economy so that creators have the right tools to solve African problems with technology that reflects our way of life,” Adekunle said.

He described ATLAS Umoja as a major step towards ensuring AI understands Africa’s more than 2,000 languages, noting that only a tiny fraction of them currently receive meaningful support from existing global AI systems.

“This is a line in the sand. We’re making a statement today that governments, industry and startups are ready to work together to build frontier technology in Africa,” he added.

Senior Director for Public Policy, Africa, at GSMA, Caroline Mbugua, said the initiative would help ensure Africa becomes an active contributor to AI development rather than remaining only a consumer of emerging technologies.

She explained that ATLAS Umoja AI was developed through a partnership involving GSMA, Awarri, Power AI and Mozisha, with Nigeria, Kenya, Namibia and Togo joining as founding members.

“Africa needs to ensure that we are not just consuming AI, but we are shaping how AI is evolving and ensuring that we participate with our uniqueness. African languages are unique, and ATLAS Umoja provides that platform,” she said.

Mbugua called on more African countries to join the initiative to make it a truly continental platform, noting that improving digital literacy through indigenous language support would help address one of the biggest barriers to digital inclusion identified in GSMA research.

The conference also focused on preparations for Africa’s common position ahead of the 2026 International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Plenipotentiary Conference, with delegates emphasising the need for stronger regional cooperation in digital governance, AI, cybersecurity and telecommunications development.