NIGERIAN DATA SCIENTIST TEAMS WITH INTERNATIONAL PARTNER TO CLINCH SECOND PLACE AT GLOBAL ATLYTICS COMPETITION

By Korede Omololu-David

LAGOS, NIGERIA – In a remarkable achievement that highlights Nigeria’s growing prowess in data science and technology innovation, a local team, led by Sunday Nwanyim, Machine Learning Architect III at Thermo Fisher Scientific, and Lekha Challappa, Founder/CTO at Aurat Olfactory AI Architect, the Pink Team. came in Second Place at the ATLytiCS Data for Hope® 2025 international competition, one of the most competitive data analytics challenges focused on social good.

The duo’s outstanding performance in this prestigious competition earned them a $1,000 cash prize and a complimentary ticket to attend Optimized AI, a premier artificial intelligence conference. Their success demonstrates how cross-border partnerships in the tech sector can yield innovative solutions to complex social challenges.

Nwanyim, whose work as a Machine Learning Architect III at Thermo Fisher Scientific involves developing advanced AI solutions for one of the world’s leading scientific research companies, brought significant technical depth to the project. His expertise in machine learning and data architecture proved instrumental in crafting a solution that could handle complex workforce data and extract meaningful insights. While Challappa, as Founder and CTO of Aurat Olfactory AI Architect, contributed unique perspectives on AI applications and innovative problem-solving approaches. The collaboration between Nwanyim’s machine learning expertise and Challappa’s entrepreneurial AI background created a powerful synergy that distinguished their submission from competitors.

The team’s project impressed judges with its technical sophistication, practical applicability, and potential for scalable impact. While specific details of their solution remain under wraps until the official showcase, sources indicate the project addresses critical workforce development needs, demonstrating how advanced analytics can be leveraged to create tangible improvements in employment outcomes and economic opportunity.

According to competition organizers, the event was particularly challenging, with exceptionally strong entries from established institutions and emerging talent worldwide. This year’s competition centered on the Atlanta Societal Impact (ASI) Workforce project, tackling one of Atlanta’s most persistent challenges: the critical mismatch between available jobs and the skills of unemployed workers. ATLytiCS partnered with CareerRise, an Atlanta-based workforce intermediary, along with Emory University’s Goizueta Business School Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) program, the National Black Data Processing Associates (NBDPA) Georgia State University chapter, and the Optimized AI Conference to engage volunteer teams in reviewing and analyzing data that could help bridge this gap and strengthen workforce development programs across the region.

The competition challenged participants to leverage data analytics to advance the core goals of workforce development, creating skilled workers, connecting them to quality employment opportunities, and building resilient communities where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. When individuals gain access to quality training and career pathways, the benefits ripple outward: businesses secure the talent they need, and local economies experience sustainable growth. The ATLytiCS Data for Hope® competition is renowned for bringing together data scientists, analysts, students, and technology professionals committed to harnessing the power of data for meaningful social impact. Participants were challenged to develop analytical solutions that address real-world problems affecting communities, from healthcare access and education equity to environmental sustainability and economic development.

The Pink Team’s approach to this complex socioeconomic challenge caught the judges’ attention for two key reasons: the technical brilliance of their solution and their remarkable grasp of how workforce development strategies can be adapted across vastly different economic landscapes. Their project showed how lessons from America’s labor market struggles could be translated into actionable insights for emerging economies grappling with similar skills-and-opportunities gaps, including Nigeria’s rapidly evolving job market.

The winning duo deployed a rigorous analytical framework known as CRISP-DM (Cross-Industry Standard Process for Data Mining), but what set them apart was their laser focus on real-world grant requirements. They designed every aspect of their analysis to speak directly to the priorities of major U.S. federal workforce programs, including Building Pathways to Infrastructure, Recompete, and the Good Jobs Challenge—initiatives that pump billions of dollars into community workforce development across America.

Their Building Pathways analysis zeroed in on participants in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) program who face the steepest barriers to employment: low-income workers, Hispanic and Latino communities, people experiencing homelessness, and others confronting systemic obstacles to economic opportunity. The team’s work addressed a fundamental question that resonates far beyond American borders: how do you create genuine pathways into high-quality infrastructure jobs for people who have historically been locked out of such opportunities? Their project addresses a critical need within underserved communities, demonstrating how advanced analytics can be leveraged to create tangible improvements in people’s lives.

This achievement adds to Nigeria’s growing reputation as a hub for technological innovation and data science excellence in Africa. In recent years, Nigerian tech professionals have increasingly gained international recognition across various competitions and professional forums, demonstrating the country’s capacity to compete at the highest levels of global technology development. The success comes at a time when data science and artificial intelligence are increasingly recognized as critical tools for addressing development challenges across the African continent. From predictive analytics for agricultural planning to machine learning applications in healthcare delivery, Nigerian innovators are at the forefront of adapting cutting-edge technologies to local contexts and needs. As Nigeria continues to invest in STEM education and digital infrastructure, achievements like this Second Place finish at ATLytiCS Data for Hope® serve as powerful evidence of our country’s potential to become a leading force in global technology innovation. The team’s success is likely to inspire a new generation of young Nigerians to pursue careers in data science and to consider how their technical skills can be applied to solving some of society’s most pressing challenges.