By Adaeze Nwosu Technology Times NG April 10, 2026
London-based Adversa AI won the AI safety award in the Artificial Intelligence Excellence Awards' Safety and Alignment category on April 10, 2026, PR Newswire reports. Red-teaming tools detect biases in large language models and guide Nigerian developers building secure AI for fintech and agritech.
AI Safety Award Spotlights Adversa's Red-Teaming Tools
Adversa AI launched in 2018 under CEO Matvey Safir. Safir addressed AI risks after early chatbots spread hate speech. The firm now ensures compliance with the EU AI Act and similar frameworks.
Judges praised the Universal Fairness and Bias Tester. This tool scans datasets for cultural biases across markets like Nigeria. PR Newswire announced the win at the San Francisco ceremony.
Adversa AI generated $15 million USD in revenue last year, Crunchbase data shows. Entrée Capital backs its enterprise safety platform. Safir stated, "Safety scales AI trust worldwide."
Nigeria's AI Safety Challenges Demand Local Solutions
Nigeria trains more than 10,000 developers yearly through Ingressive for Good, per its 2025 report. Power outages and scarce datasets hinder safe model training in Lagos and Abuja.
Fraud risks threaten fintechs. A Lagos fintech lost NGN 50 million ($30,000 USD at NGN 1,667/USD) to AI-generated scams last quarter, NITDA reports. Alignment tech adds ethical guardrails.
Nigerian teams customize Adversa's tests for pidgin English and Yoruba dialects. CcHUB in Yaba hosts red-teaming workshops under NITDA's National AI Strategy guidelines. NITDA requires AI risk assessments for high-impact systems like fraud detection.
Nigerian Startups Adopt Insights from AI Safety Award
Zuri Health in Abuja deploys Adversa's bias checks for telemedicine AI. CEO Fatima Bello reported 40 percent error reductions. Ventures Platform led Zuri's $2 million USD seed round last month.
Songhai Labs in Enugu adapts alignment tools for pest detection AI. Offline capabilities suit Nigeria's 55 percent broadband penetration, NCC data shows. Adversa's open-source kits speed adoption.
Africa's AI sector drew $1.5 billion USD in 2025 funding, Partech Africa reports. Safety-focused ventures took 15 percent, double the rate of general AI deals.
Investors Prioritize AI Safety Amid Regulatory Shifts
Nigerian VCs emphasize safety. Microtraction requires checks post-NITDA rules. Partner Tola Ajakaiye told TechCabal, "Alignment de-risks exits."
Paystack applies red-teaming in its Stripe-backed fraud AI. CB Insights forecasts $5 billion USD valuations for leading Nigerian fintechs like Paystack.
Entrée Capital plans deeper commitments to Adversa AI post-award. Crypto caution underscores safety focus: Bitcoin traded at $72,898 USD on April 10, 2026, Alternative.me data shows.
Path Forward for Nigerian AI Safety
Adversa AI targets Africa expansion via NITDA sandboxes. Andela aims to train 500 alignment specialists by 2027.
The Lagos AI Safety Summit on May 15 expects 2,000 attendees. AltSchool Africa organizers cite Adversa AI's AI safety award as keynote inspiration.
Broadband reaches 55 percent of Nigeria, NCC states. Edge AI enables on-device safety checks despite power gaps. Founders blend global tools with local fixes like solar backups to drive fintech and agritech growth.
Adversa AI's AI safety award elevates Nigeria's ecosystem.
