By Idowu Bankole

As artificial intelligence continues to shape global economies, questions around access and inclusion are becoming more urgent. While much of the technology is developed for environments with constant internet access, large parts of Africa still operate under different realities. For Nigerian-born technology professional, Ejiro Omoniyi, those realities are central to his work.

Omoniyi is a technology product leader whose recent work focuses on how artificial intelligence can function in low-connectivity environments common across Nigeria and other African countries. His research and development efforts explore offline and hybrid AI systems that allow people to interact with intelligent tools even when internet access is unreliable or unavailable.
According to Omoniyi, Africa’s AI future cannot be built solely by adapting solutions designed for always-connected regions.
“In many African communities, connectivity is intermittent, data is expensive, and infrastructure gaps are normal. If AI systems are not designed with these conditions in mind, they will remain inaccessible to most people,” he said.

Background Shaped by Scale and Systems

Currently based in the United States, Omoniyi has spent years working on large-scale technology systems across global organisations, with experience spanning large-scale systems, automation, and AI development. His background involves building tools used to manage complex operations and data-heavy environments, experience he says has influenced how he approaches AI design.

Rather than focusing on advanced consumer features, Omoniyi’s interest lies in resilience and practicality.

“My work has always involved building systems that have to work under constraints. That mindset carries into how I think about AI for Africa,” he explained.

That thinking led him to explore offline-first AI architectures, an area that remains relatively underdeveloped compared to cloud-dependent models.

Making AI Work Without Constant Internet

Omoniyi is the founder behind Lykeli, an AI platform built around the idea that meaningful interaction with artificial intelligence should not depend entirely on broadband access. The system is designed to support offline or low-bandwidth use, including interaction through basic messaging channels such as SMS when internet access is limited.

While Lykeli is still evolving, Omoniyi emphasises that the broader goal is not about launching another AI product, but about proving that alternative AI architectures are possible.

“Most AI assumes the internet will always be there. In many African contexts, that assumption does not hold. I wanted to explore what AI looks like when you remove that dependency,” he said.

The approach has implications beyond convenience. Offline-capable AI systems could support education, healthcare, small businesses, and personal productivity in areas where digital tools often fail due to connectivity issues.

A Broader Vision for Africa’s AI Role

Omoniyi’s work comes at a time when several African countries, including Nigeria, are beginning to develop national AI strategies. Much of the conversation has focused on adoption, regulation, and talent development. Less attention has been paid to infrastructure-aware design.

Technology analysts note that solutions built specifically for African conditions could help the continent move from being a consumer of AI technologies to an active contributor to how those technologies are developed.

Omoniyi believes local context matters as much as technical sophistication.

“If Africa only adopts AI built elsewhere, it will always be adapting to systems that were not designed for its realities. The opportunity is to shape AI from the ground up in ways that reflect how people actually live and communicate,” he said.

Research and Long-Term Impact

Beyond product development, Omoniyi is engaged in research and intellectual property work related to offline AI systems and resilient AI architectures. His focus is on documenting and formalising these approaches so they can influence broader industry thinking.

He views this work as part of a long-term effort rather than a short-term commercial pursuit.
“This is about laying foundations. If we get the fundamentals right, others can build on it in education, public services, and community tools,” he said.

Looking Ahead

As conversations about artificial intelligence and Africa continue to grow, Omoniyi’s work highlights a different perspective on innovation, one that prioritises inclusion, practicality, and long-term relevance over speed and visibility.

For Nigeria, his efforts reflect a growing group of professionals working behind the scenes to ensure that the next phase of global technology does not leave African communities behind.
In an AI-driven world, Omoniyi’s work suggests that progress may depend not just on more powerful models, but on systems designed to work where conditions are less than perfect.