Data Science Nigeria Holds Artificial Intelligence Bootcamp in Lagos

About 78 students from different universities, polytechnics and other institutions across the globe are in Lagos for the 3rd edition of the Data Science Nigeria (DSN) Artificial Intelligence (AI) Bootcamp. The 5 day all expense paid bootcamp which kicked off on October 10th is aimed at building capacity in the use of Deep Learning concepts in addressing analytical gaps in financial inclusion.

We officially kick-start the 2018 Data Science Nigeria's Artificial Intelligence bootcamp #AIBootcamp pic.twitter.com/RiniqobtEy

— DSN – Data Scientists Network/Data Science Nigeria (@datascientistsN) October 10, 2018

The bootcamp was heralded by an Artificial Intelligence/Financial Inclusion summit themed: ‘New Algorithm for the Financially Excluded Segment’ at the Oriental Hotel, Lekki. It focused on how AI – particularly lead sponsor, Microsoft Azure tool, are rapidly changing how financial institutions operate, manage data, and interact with customers. It also featured a panel discussion on the theme.

Recommended Read: Microsoft Sponsors Data Science Nigeria’s Deep Learning Nigeria Bootcamp in Lagos

Our AI Demystified for Executive ongoing with @jacquesludik simplifying Artificial Intelligence terminologies to
top business leaders in banks, insurance, telco, oil&gas, manufacturing, media, retail etc.
from AI to Machine Learning to Deep Learning.. path to Customer 360 pic.twitter.com/Arov27ONIK

— DSN – Data Scientists Network/Data Science Nigeria (@datascientistsN) October 9, 2018

Key industry stakeholders present at the event include: Dele Adeyinka, Chief Digital Officer, ALAT by Wema Bank; Akin Banuso, Country Manager, Microsoft (Nigeria and Ghana); Temitope Akin-Fadeyi, Head financial inclusion Secretariat, Central Bank of Nigeria; Deremi Atanda, Executive Director, Remitta; Olu Akanmu , Executive Director, FCMB; and Mrs Omokehinde Adebanjo, VP & Area Business Head, MasterCard, West Africa.

Panel Discussion at Artificial Intelligence for Financial Inclusion.
Insights on the new algorithms for the financially excluded segment using 6 personae.
Customers are not the same and no one-size-fits-all. pic.twitter.com/3qbY94GAnm

— DSN – Data Scientists Network/Data Science Nigeria (@datascientistsN) October 10, 2018

Now happening: First panel session on Financial inclusion #DSNAISummit pic.twitter.com/J2wxkjCUlU

— DSN – Data Scientists Network/Data Science Nigeria (@datascientistsN) October 10, 2018

Still happening, Panel session:
If somebody collects a loan from a bank and for some reasons refuse to pay back, How can we leverage on data from social media to address such defaults? These are the type of questions AI for financial inclusion seeks to address. #DSNAISummit pic.twitter.com/D5Yu9cGnUO

— DSN – Data Scientists Network/Data Science Nigeria (@datascientistsN) October 10, 2018

The Bootcamp kicked off in earnest at 4.pm on the same day at the Pennisula Resort, Lekki. First up was a session with Karim Beguir, Founder/CEO Instadeep AI, London, speaking on AI, what it entails and its importance.

Artificial intelligence is the concatenation of Deep learning (Pattern recognition) and Reforcemen Learning(Try and error) @kbeguir @DataScienceNIG @instadeepai pic.twitter.com/bat8U6q8uD

— Kamar (@akindelekamar) October 10, 2018

Round up of the first session of the 2018 Data Science Nigeria #AIBootcamp pic.twitter.com/oVE8BIdr6y

— DSN – Data Scientists Network/Data Science Nigeria (@datascientistsN) October 10, 2018

Day two continued with a lecture from Jacques Ludik, CEO Cortex Logic, South Africa, on introduction to deep Learning and its applications. He shared with the participants the different Deep Learning Algorithms including: Convulational Neural Network (CNN), and Recurrent Neural Network (RNN).

Day 2 of DSN #AIBootcamp:@jacquesludik Kick-started the day with an introduction to deep Learning and it's applications. He discussed the different Deep Learning Algorithms including:
– Convulational Neural Network (CNN)
– Recurrent Neural Network (RNN) pic.twitter.com/yzzsgNVKMi

— DSN – Data Scientists Network/Data Science Nigeria (@datascientistsN) October 11, 2018

Day 2 of DSN #AIBootcamp
One of the useful applications of Deep Learning in health care is its use for drug discovery. This in simple terms refers to feeding data into a deep learning model and generating drug samples as output – @jacquesludik pic.twitter.com/5PQ7cwCWQw

— DSN – Data Scientists Network/Data Science Nigeria (@datascientistsN) October 11, 2018

Other sessions that have taken place so far includes:

• Session by Matthieu Gressier, Director, Inclusive Fintech, Bankable Frontiers Associate, USA on the topic, ‘Deep Learning and its Application in Financial Inclusion’, 1 and 2, (Day 2).

Day 2 of DSN #AIBootcamp @MattGressier Kick-started the second session at the Data Science Nigeria AI bootcamp with an advanced class in Deep Learning and it application in financial inclusion. pic.twitter.com/aXYd2tmmkY

— DSN – Data Scientists Network/Data Science Nigeria (@datascientistsN) October 11, 2018

https://twitter.com/ao_raji/status/1050347561721180160

• Session with Dr Emmanuel Doro, PhD, Georgia Tech & Principal Data Scientist, USA, on the topic, ‘Convolutional Neural Networks’ (Day 2).

Dr Emmanuel Doro, PhD, Georgia Tech & Principal Data Scientist, https://t.co/fnpoDzpHNR,
USA, kick-started the 3rd session on Convolutional Neural Networks with a motivation for participants to ignore the setbacks, be determined and get problems solved. #AIBootcamp pic.twitter.com/9mGb4CgJp1

— DSN – Data Scientists Network/Data Science Nigeria (@datascientistsN) October 11, 2018

Some key points from Convolutional Neural Networks by Dr Emmanuel Doro:
– Features describe the attributes of your data.
– Invest your time to understand your data.
– Look for the simplest model, then train with that
– Define a baseline#AIBootcamp

— DSN – Data Scientists Network/Data Science Nigeria (@datascientistsN) October 11, 2018

• Session with Dr. Abiodun Modupe, PhD Researcher, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa, on the topic, ‘Deep Learning for Natural Language Processing ( NLP)’ (Day 2 and 3).

Dr. Abiodun Modupe kick-started the session on "Deep Learning for Natural Language Processing ( NLP)" by laying a good foundation on the applications of Natural Language Processing in language translation, behavioral prediction etc. #AIBootcamp pic.twitter.com/iqapPXe9eT

— DSN – Data Scientists Network/Data Science Nigeria (@datascientistsN) October 11, 2018

• Session with Sulaimon Afolabi, Argility, South Africa on the topic, Machine Learning, Unsupervised Learning using K-Means Clustering algorithm (Day 3).

Day 3 of DSN #AIBootcamp:
Dr. @afolaborn1st currently facilitating the first session on Machine Learning. He is currently simplifying the concept of Unsupervised Learning using K-Means Clustering algorithm. pic.twitter.com/WM6EZKJ3Qs

— DSN – Data Scientists Network/Data Science Nigeria (@datascientistsN) October 12, 2018

The bootcamp has also featured the official launching of Zindi Africa, a data science collaborative, competition and learning platform, built to solve Africa’s unique problems.

official launching of @ZindiAfrica by the Zindi Africa team at the Data Science Nigeria AI Bootcamp. Zindi is a data science collaborative, competition and learning platform, built to solve Africa's unique problems. #AIBootcamp pic.twitter.com/vXN7dkk5vB

— DSN – Data Scientists Network/Data Science Nigeria (@datascientistsN) October 11, 2018

Dr. @bayoadekanmbi, Founder/Convener @DataScienceNIG, talking about the importance of @ZindiAfrica platform in solving Africa's unique problems as well as the need to start telling African's data science story leveraging on African solutions.#AIBootcamp pic.twitter.com/eK3K4TsRwe

— DSN – Data Scientists Network/Data Science Nigeria (@datascientistsN) October 11, 2018

The bootcamp will continue until October 14, 2018 and will continue to feature face-to-face teaching, virtual online classes, and finally a hands-on hackathon using the Kaggle.com platform. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finalists will earn prizes with a total value of 1 million naira from the Bootcamp organizers as well as other opportunities from Microsoft and other sponsors.