Hi Ayodele here,

This week’s updates show how African countries are planning to use AI to solve real problems in health, education, and governance. Nigeria has launched an AI-driven cancer plan to improve early diagnosis, Angola is introducing AI tools in primary schools, and Zimbabwe is working with UNESCO to strengthen its ethical AI framework. These efforts reflect a growing focus on practical and responsible AI adoption across the continent.

Let us get into it. In this edition:

• Angola launches AI pilot program in primary schools

• UNESCO partners with Zimbabwe to advance ethical AI framework

• Nigeria launches AI-driven cancer plan to modernise oncology care

Around Africa

Nigeria launches AI-driven cancer plan to modernise oncology care

The Nigerian Federal Government has officially launched a strategic AI-driven cancer plan designed to modernize the nation's approach to oncology. This initiative focuses on integrating artificial intelligence into the healthcare system to enhance the early detection and precision diagnosis of various cancer types. By deploying AI algorithms, the government aims to support radiologists and oncologists in identifying malignant patterns in medical imaging with higher accuracy.

The plan also includes the establishment of a centralized digital registry to track patient data and treatment outcomes across the country. Health officials believe that leveraging technology will help bridge the gap in specialized medical personnel in underserved regions.

Why it matters 

Cancer remains a leading cause of death in West Africa, often due to late-stage diagnosis. By utilizing AI for early screening, Nigeria can significantly improve survival rates and optimize the use of limited medical resources, setting a precedent for tech-integrated public health across the continent.

Angola launches AI pilot program in primary schools

The Angolan government has announced an ambitious pilot program to introduce artificial intelligence directly into the primary school curriculum. This initiative is designed to equip young students with foundational digital literacy and a basic understanding of how AI systems function. The Ministry of Education plans to roll out specialized learning modules that use AI-driven personal tutors to help children with mathematics and language arts. Teachers will receive dedicated training to act as facilitators in these tech-enhanced classrooms, ensuring the technology complements traditional instruction.

The program aims to foster critical thinking and problem-solving skills from an early age to prepare the next generation for a digital economy. Government officials emphasized that the pilot will initially target a select group of public schools to test the infrastructure requirements. If successful, the curriculum will be scaled nationwide to reach students in even the most remote provinces. This move aligns with Angola’s broader vision of digital transformation and human capital development.

Why it matters 

Introducing AI at the primary level ensures that the digital divide does not widen as technology evolves. By familiarizing children with AI early, Angola is building a future-ready workforce that can participate in the global tech landscape, rather than just consuming it.

UNESCO partners with Zimbabwe to advance ethical AI framework

UNESCO has deepened its partnership with Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Information Communication Technology to accelerate the country's digital transformation agenda. The collaboration focuses on developing a robust ethical framework for the deployment of artificial intelligence within Zimbabwe’s public and private sectors. Key objectives include enhancing the capacity of government institutions to manage digital data securely and transparently. UNESCO will provide technical expertise to help align Zimbabwe’s national AI policies with global standards for human rights and privacy.

The partnership also prioritizes the promotion of digital skills among the youth and women to ensure inclusive economic growth. Both parties expressed a commitment to using AI as a tool for achieving Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in education and environmental management. This joint effort includes organizing workshops and policy dialogues to engage local stakeholders in the digital transition process. By strengthening these institutional ties, Zimbabwe hopes to attract more international investment into its growing tech ecosystem.

Why it matters 

Strategic partnerships with global bodies like UNESCO provide the regulatory guardrails necessary for responsible AI growth. For Zimbabwe, this collaboration ensures that its digital leapfrog is backed by international best practices, fostering trust for both citizens and foreign investors.

Around the world

ByteDance Launches Seedance-2 High-Fidelity Video Generator

ByteDance has officially released Seedance-2, its next-generation AI model capable of generating high-definition video from simple text prompts. The update significantly improves temporal consistency, meaning characters and backgrounds stay stable and realistic throughout the duration of a clip. It features advanced physics simulations and cinematic lighting that rival the industry's top creative tools. Designed for professional workflows, the model allows creators to direct specific camera movements like pans and tilts with high precision. This launch marks a major leap for ByteDance as it competes for dominance in the rapidly evolving generative video market.

Meta Rolls Out AI-Animated Profile Pictures for Facebook

Meta is introducing a new "Animate" feature that allows Facebook users to turn static profile photos into dynamic, moving portraits. Using its "Restyle" AI technology, the tool adds subtle, natural movements like shifting light or wind effects to existing images. Users can choose from several artistic styles to personalize their digital identity, ranging from realistic to illustrative. The AI analyzes image depth to ensure the animations look proportional and professional before they are applied. This move is part of Meta’s broader strategy to make social profiles more interactive and engaging for a new generation of users.

OpenAI Begins Rolling Out Sponsored Ads Within ChatGPT

OpenAI has officially started integrating sponsored links and advertisements directly into the ChatGPT conversation stream. These ads are designed to appear as helpful suggestions when a user’s query aligns with specific commercial intents, such as travel planning or shopping. The company is utilizing a search-style auction system, allowing brands to bid on relevant keywords within the chat interface. This shift in strategy aims to help subsidize the massive computing costs required to provide high-level AI models to a global audience. It marks a significant evolution for ChatGPT as it moves closer to a traditional search engine business model.

Around the Web - Top Picks

• Matt Shumer’s Viral AI Reality Check

  Entrepreneur Matt Shumer sparked a massive debate this week with a post outlining the "new world order" of AI. He argues that we are rapidly moving toward a future where 90% of software is written by AI, and the "human" role shifts almost entirely from coding to high-level system architecture and requirement definition. The thread has become a must-read for knowledge workers trying to understand the speed of professional automation in 2026.

  Read on X: Matt Shumer’s Viral AI Reality Check

• How to Humanize Your AI Writing in 2026: As AI-generated content becomes the web's default, The Algorithmic Bridge breaks down why traditional "prompt engineering" isn't enough to stand out anymore. This guide explores how to inject authentic personal voice, anecdotal evidence, and "human-only" insights into your drafts to bypass AI detectors and, more importantly, truly connect with readers who are increasingly weary of "slop" content.

  Read on substack: How to Humanize Your AI Writing in 2026

Seen This?

Checkout this viral article that has got everyone talking about the future of AI.

Upcoming African AI Events

Deep Learning IndabaX Uganda 2026 
Date: March 23–27, 2026
Location: Silver Springs Hotel, Kampala, Uganda
Theme: Building a Responsible AI Ecosystem for Sustainable Innovation. This 5-day intensive event features a "Spring School" on Agent-Based Modeling, tutorials on LLMs, and research presentations aimed at fostering local impact through AI.

Project Launch: Catalyzing AI Innovation in Africa
Date: February 25, 2026 (9:00 AM – 11:00 AM)
Location: University of Pretoria, South Africa
Theme: Intellectual Property and Africa’s AI Future. This event brings together researchers and policymakers to launch a major new report on how IP laws are currently helping (or hindering) AI startups across the continent.

Deep Learning IndabaX Nigeria 2026 
Dates: May 11–14, 2026
Location: University of Ibadan, Nigeria
Theme: Strengthening the Nigerian AI ecosystem through grassroots knowledge sharing. This event focuses on deep learning research, practical workshops on Large Language Models (LLMs), and fostering collaboration among students, researchers, and industry professionals across West Africa.

AI Job Opportunities

• The Shoprite Group of Companies - Data Scientist, South Africa

• Wave Mobile Money - Data Scientist, Kenya

• DRA Global - AI Engineer, South Africa

• ImagineArt - AI Engineer, Nigeria

• Linked Heroes - AI Engineer, Ethiopia

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