Sama Partners with the University of Nairobi to Advance Generative AI Capabilities in Africa

NAIROBI, Kenya, July 18th, 2024 – Sama, the leader in providing data annotation and model evaluation for some of the world’s biggest artificial intelligence (AI) models, today announced it has entered into a strategic partnership with The University of Nairobi (UoN) designed to advance the Generative AI (GenAI) industry in Kenya.

By virtue of this partnership, UoN students and faculty will gain exposure to the rapidly evolving GenAI environment through part-time employment opportunities with Sama. Sama will provide the appropriate training, equipment, materials and work areas to facilitate this engagement.

Speaking during the signing of the agreement, Prof Stephen Kiama, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nairobi, highlighted the importance of this collaboration stating, “Our partnership with Sama presents a significant step forward for students and faculty, providing a unique platform for students to apply their academic knowledge in a real-world setting, enhancing their learning and experience and better preparing them for the demands of the AI industry.”

This partnership has come at an opportune time as the UoN gears up to establish an Artificial Intelligence School as part of its plans to create skilled manpower for the future.

Annepeace Alwala, Sama Vice President Global Service Delivery, stated, “We are thrilled to collaborate with the University of Nairobi to foster the next generation of AI talent in Kenya. This partnership underscores our commitment to driving innovation and creating opportunities for the youth to excel in the rapidly growing field of artificial intelligence. By providing students with practical experience, we are investing in the future of AI and contributing to the growth of the technology sector in Kenya.”

This partnership underscores Sama’s commitment to the national economic development agenda espoused by the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BeTA). This initiative is a significant step towards bridging the digital divide, promising to uplift communities, nurture talent and position Kenya within the global AI value chain.