Itana, previously known as Talent City and widely recognized as Africa’s pioneering digital free zone, has unveiled what it claims to be the continent’s first fully integrated AI and data innovation hub. This initiative is designed to support African startups, researchers, and developers working on artificial intelligence technologies by providing them with critical infrastructure and resources that have historically been out of reach.
According to Itana, the new full-stack AI and data growth zone offers a suite of services tailored to the unique needs of African innovators. These include:
- Affordable Access to GPU Clusters: Local developers will now be able to train AI models using high-performance GPU clusters at a fraction of the cost of international alternatives.
- Low-Latency, Regulation-Compliant Data Storage: The platform ensures that data remains within local jurisdictions, helping users comply with regional data protection laws while maintaining high-speed access.
- Talent Network: Startups and researchers will gain access to a vetted pool of AI developers, machine learning operations (MLOps) engineers, and data scientists, fostering collaboration and accelerating project timelines.
For many African developers, training AI models has been a costly and inefficient process. Individuals like Azeez Saheed have had to rely on platforms such as Google Colab, which, while accessible, become prohibitively expensive for long-term or large-scale model training.
Mayowa Olugbile, CEO of Itana, emphasized the urgency of the initiative:
Itana’s vision is to close this infrastructure gap and create a home for the builders of Africa’s AI future. If we don’t act now, we risk becoming permanently dependent on foreign platforms and providers.
The challenge is widespread. A United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) study found that only about 5% of Africa’s AI talent currently has access to GPU resources. Most developers are forced to rely on limited free-tier tools or pay upwards of $1,000 per month for minimal cloud access—often limited to just two hours of daily usage on outdated hardware. This drastically slows down development cycles. While developers in more advanced markets can iterate on models every 30 minutes, their African counterparts may wait days between updates.
While some startups, like Case Radar, continue to build on existing global infrastructure, others are advocating for a more sovereign approach. Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, General Partner at Future Africa and an investor in Itana, stated:
Africa will not win in the AI age by consuming what the rest of the world builds. We’ll win by creating the infrastructure that allows our people to build for themselves. What Itana is doing with this AI/Data Hub is laying the foundation for a sovereign, globally competitive tech future. This is how we take our place at the frontier.
Although the launch of Tana’s AI and data growth zone marks a significant milestone, its long-term impact will depend on how accessible, scalable, and consistently maintained the infrastructure proves to be. If successful, it could redefine Africa’s role in the global AI ecosystem—shifting the continent from a consumer of AI technologies to a creator and innovator.
