BANJUL, The Gambia & SINGAPORE – May 24, 2026 — LingoAI Foundation Pte Ltd (“LingoAI”), a leader in Sovereign AI & Data solutions, and Jokkolabs Banjul, a pioneer in open innovation and social enterprise in West Africa, today announced the signing of a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The landmark partnership establishes a collaborative framework aimed at advancing AI readiness, developing local language datasets, and fostering applied AI innovation across The Gambia.
Under the terms of the three-year agreement, LingoAI and Jokkolabs Banjul will combine technical expertise and community-driven execution to build a sustainable, locally grounded AI ecosystem. The partnership focuses on equipping local communities with the tools and training required to participate directly in the global AI economy while preserving cultural and data sovereignty.
Key Partnership Objectives
· Technical & Infrastructure Support: LingoAI will provide its advanced technical stack, architectural guidance, and methods for dataset annotation, corpus creation, and local language model customization. Private and fine-tuned models will also be deployed for enterprise and institutional applications where data confidentiality and sovereignty are paramount.
· Local Dataset & Multilingual Development: Jokkolabs Banjul will mobilize community contributors, language experts, and local developers to create curated datasets in indigenous Gambian languages, including Mandinka, Wolof, and Fula.
· Capacity Building & AI Academy: Jokkolabs Banjul will host training bootcamps, workshops, and incubation programs through a dedicated AI Literacy and Skills Academy, upskilling youth, researchers, and local startups.
· Resource Mobilization & Joint Grants: Both organizations will collaborate on joint grant applications, institutional funding, and strategic sponsorships to scale capacity-building initiatives nationwide.
Executive Statements
“At LingoAI, our mission is built on data sovereignty and ensuring AI technology serves humanity authentically and equitably. Partnering with Jokkolabs Banjul allows us to bring decentralized AI tools and high-quality data workflows directly to local talent in The Gambia, empowering them to build tailored solutions for their own communities.”
— Una Wang, Founder and CEO of LingoAI
“This collaboration marks a significant milestone for The Gambia’s digital transformation journey. By combining Jokkolabs’ local ecosystem reach with LingoAI’s cutting-edge AI architecture, we are paving the way for Gambian youth and innovators to actively shape the future of artificial intelligence in Africa.”
— Poncelet O. Ileleji, CEO and Founder of Jokkolabs Banjul
The MoU serves as the foundational blueprint for joint initiatives and sets the stage for upcoming pilot programs, community hackathons, and research initiatives launching later this year.
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About LingoAI Foundation Pte Ltd
LingoAI Foundation Pte Ltd is a Singapore-headquartered Sovereign AI and Data technology organization dedicated to personal data sovereignty, decentralized agent networks, and multilingual language processing. By enabling tokenized semantic data layers and privacy-focused local execution, LingoAI empowers individuals and organizations to own, control, and monetize their digital identity and knowledge.
About Jokkolabs Banjul
Jokkolabs Banjul is part of the global Jokkolabs network, serving as a hub for open innovation, technology incubation, and social entrepreneurship in The Gambia. Located in Bakau, Jokkolabs fosters collaborative ecosystems, driving digital skills development, entrepreneurship, and community-led technological solutions across West Africa.
Media Contacts
LingoAI Foundation Pte Ltd
Email: unawang@lingoai.io
Website: https://lingoai.io
Jokkolabs Banjul
Email: hellobanjul@jokkolabs.co
Address: Sait Matty Road, Bakau, The Gambia