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Softcom Supports Democratization of AI Knowledge for Socio-Economic Impact
In furtherance of its vision to solve some of Africa’s biggest challenges in identity, education, payment and data for people and businesses, Softcom is supporting easy access to artificial intelligence (AI) learning in partnership with Data Science Nigeria with an AI for business leaders’ masterclass and the official release of the first AI book for Nigeria’s primary and secondary schools.
Softcom, an indigenous technology company, is a leader in deploying technological solutions to solve socio-economic development challenges on the continent.
The company is known for its people-centric innovations aimed at shaping inclusive growth, creating high-quality employment opportunities, and improving people and business operations in Africa.
According to Yomi Adedeji, ceo, Softcom, “We always strive to build solutions and technology that will positively impact the lives of people.
“We recognise that with artificial intelligence applications across all socio-economic sectors, we can catalyse a new wave of sustainable innovations, enabling all-round societal impact.
“At Softcom, we understand that artificial intelligence is critical for national competitiveness and local innovation, hence our drive towards making the knowledge available to everyone, from kids in primary schools to CEOs whose decisions shape the corporate future of our national business landscape”.
The one-day Artificial Intelligence Demystified masterclass for executives and business leaders aims to equip business decision-makers to understand the concept of artificial intelligence and its applications, imparting a clear understanding of how it can catalyse Nigeria’s businesses to have sustainable impacts through innovative solution development, cost reductions and improve operational efficiency.
The masterclass will be facilitated by some of world’s best including one of the fathers of artificial intelligence, Professor Thomas Dietterich, the US-based distinguished professor emeritus at Oregon State University and the founder of BigML.
Other speakers include the Director of Data Science at the world’s largest brick-and-mortar retailer, US-based Walmart, Dr Emmanuel Doro; Facebook’s Research Scientist, Dr. Eric Sodomka; Dr. Nnnana Orieke, Cloud Solution Architect, Data and AI, Microsoft; Margaryta Ostapchuk, Software Engineer, Microsoft Canada; Sabrina Smai, Software Engineer, Microsoft Canada; Nicholas Litombe, US-based Solution Data Scientist; and Olubayo Adekanmbi, the Convener of Data Science Nigeria and Chief Transformation Officer, MTN Nigeria, among others.
Tomi Amao, Softcom’s Chief Technology Officer, who will also be speaking at the event, said “At Softcom, we understand how access to AI knowledge can drive productivity, especially when technology is simplified to solve everyday problems in ways that improve how we live, learn and work in Africa”.
Fully supported by Softcom, the first-ever Nigerian Artificial Intelligence book for primary and secondary school will be distributed free in Nigerian schools.
The book will introduce Nigerian students to the basics of AI in order to stimulate innovative thinking and drive for global competitiveness.
The book titled, Beginners’ Artificial Intelligence and Python Programming is written by the convener of Data Science Nigeria, Olubayo Adekanmbi, an experienced hands-on data scientist, doctoral researcher and business leader with 20 years of experience.
Softcom is a leading Africa innovative company that is focused on addressing fundamental development issues tied to Identity, Payment, Data and Learning, and is respected for its AI-powered product innovations, including PassID, Koya, Eyowo and DataBeaver.
Organisations today face a data paradox: they need to make fast, intelligent decisions but are overwhelmed by large volumes of often unreliable information. With over 75% of business leaders under pressure to prove data’s value, the demand for trusted, actionable insights has never been greater.
What is agentic analytics
Agentic analytics allows users to collaborate with AI agents to speed up the entire data-to-action process. Instead of relying on static visualizations, analysts can use AI to automate tasks like data preparation and ETL (extract, transform, load processes), freeing them to focus on deeper analysis. Business leaders can ask natural language questions and get instant, reliable answers along with recommended actions. This makes data-driven decision-making easier and more efficient, removing the need for technical expertise and manual effort typical of traditional BI tools.
- Automate repetitive data tasks like data cleaning, transformation, and visualization generation, as well as the execution of complex, multi-step analytical workflows within and across different business areas. This builds on Tableau’s strength in simplifying complex data for users.
- Proactively deliver faster, more comprehensive insights by autonomously detecting hidden correlations, outliers, and trends that might be missed by human observation. This enhances Tableau’s focus on user-driven insights by providing AI guidance.
- Enable more contextual and effective action through natural language summaries, visualisations, and data-driven recommendations, insights delivered where people work with an enterprise-class workflow engine that enables users to kick off automated actions. This extends Tableau’s ability to drive action from data, making it more seamless within the Salesforce ecosystem.
Built on the trusted Salesforce Platform and leveraging the power of Data Cloud, Tableau Next delivers enterprise-grade performance, robust security, and flexible, zero-copy data integration for seamless data connectivity. Tableau Semantics, an intelligent semantic layer, provides a unified understanding of information, ensuring data consistency and accelerating the discovery of critical insights. The built-in workflow engine in Tableau Next seamlessly translates insights directly into actionable steps, dramatically accelerating the time to value. The key differentiator is the native integration with Agentforce, Tableau Next equips humans and AI agents with pre-built analytical skills to rapidly transform data into tangible business value, marking a significant leap forward in data-driven decision-making. It includes:
- Data Pro: Your Intelligent Data Prep Assistant. Instead of users manually cleaning up and changing data using complex steps (like in traditional ETL), Data Pro will give smart suggestions on how to do it and even automatically handle some of the complicated changes, saving time and effort.
- Concierge: Instant Answers in Plain Language. Get immediate, reliable answers to data questions. Sales teams, for example, can simply ask “What are my best sales opportunities?” and receive clear insights with recommended actions.
- Inspector: Proactive Data Monitoring & Insights. Continuously tracks your data for key changes, analyzes trends, and predicts improvements. Service teams can be instantly alerted to drops in customer satisfaction, enabling immediate action.
Ensuring Data Trust and Accuracy:
- Tableau Semantics: Tableau Semantics serves as the semantic layer, providing Tableau Next and Agentforce with a unified understanding of business data. By establishing consistent definitions and context, it enables AI agents to generate accurate and relevant responses.
Boosting Efficiency:
- Marketplace: Allows users to easily share and reuse data analysis components (like data assets, connections, metrics, visualizations, dashboards), saving time and ensuring everyone is working with the same information.
“Tableau Next helps businesses achieve faster, more impactful results with their data,” said Ryan Aytay, CEO of Tableau. “We’re shifting from basic reports to a world where AI is a collaborative decision-making partner. By combining AI agents with trusted data and easy-to-use tools, we’re making data accessible to everyone and transforming the data-to-action process into an automated, proactive, and insight-driven cycle. This empowers users to improve decision-making, boost efficiency, and manage risk more effectively.”
Chinese-founded e-commerce platforms Temu and Shein have announced upcoming price increases for U.S. customers, citing higher operating expenses due to tariffs imposed during former President Donald Trump’s administration.
These tariffs include a 145% import tax on most goods made in China and the elimination of the “de minimis provision,” which previously allowed goods valued under $800 to enter the U.S. duty-free.
The changes, effective May 2, have disrupted the business models of both companies, known for their ultra-low prices and extensive digital marketing campaigns.
Temu and Shein, which specialize in affordable products ranging from clothing to electronics, have urged customers to shop before the price adjustments take effect.
The companies aim to minimize the impact on consumers while adapting to the new trade rules.
These developments come amid concerns from U.S. lawmakers and business groups about the competitive advantage of inexpensive Chinese goods and the potential entry of counterfeit products through the now-canceled exemption.
Google has opened applications for the 2025 Google for Startups Accelerator Africa program, a three-month initiative designed to support early-stage startups using artificial intelligence to address Africa’s most pressing challenges.
Across the continent, startups are demonstrating how local innovation can solve deeply rooted problems. In West Africa, Crop2Cash – an agritech platform and alumni of the program – is using AI to digitally onboard smallholder farmers, build their financial identities, and provide them with access to credit, traceable payments, and productivity tools.
Through these efforts, Crop2Cash is improving agricultural outcomes and unlocking economic opportunity for farmers who have long been excluded from formal systems—illustrating the kind of impact that’s possible when African startups receive the support they need to scale.
The Accelerator is open to Seed to Series A startups based in Africa that are building AI-first solutions. Startups must have a live product, at least one founder of African descent, and a clear vision for responsible AI innovation. Selected participants will receive:
Dedicated technical mentorship from Google and industry experts
Up to $350,000 in Google Cloud credits
Access to a global network of investors, partners, and collaborators
Workshops focused on technology, product strategy, people leadership, and AI implementation
AI’s potential to accelerate Africa’s development is real, and Google is investing in ensuring that African startups lead that charge. According to McKinsey, AI could add $1.3 trillion to Africa’s economy by 2030, but only if bold innovation is supported at the grassroots.
“Startups are Africa’s problem solvers. With the right resources, they can scale their impact far beyond local communities,” said Folarin Aiyegbusi, Head of Startup Ecosystem, Africa at Google.
“This program reflects our belief that AI can be transformative when shaped by those who understand the context deeply.”
Since 2018, the program has supported 140 startups from 17 African countries. These alumni have raised more than $300 million in funding and created over 3,000 jobs. Many are now regional and global leaders in their categories.
Applications for the 2025 cohort are now open. Startups interested in participating can apply at: https://startup.google.com/programs/accelerator/africa
For further information and updates, visit the Google Africa Blog or follow @GoogleAfrica on social media.
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