In the rapidly evolving landscape of global innovation, data science and artificial intelligence (AI) are reshaping industries, revolutionizing healthcare, and transforming decision-making.

Yet, in Africa, the shortage of localized training, mentorship, and infrastructure threatens to widen the digital divide. That’s where the Elite Research and Data Science Institute (ERDSI) steps in, a rising force committed to bridging this gap through inclusive education, innovation, and collaboration.

Founded by Ebenezer Senu, MLS, a molecular and cellular biologist/immunologist turned data scientist, ERDSI is a mission-driven organization dedicated to equipping the next generation of African researchers, professionals, and students with practical skills in data science, research analytics, and AI applications.

Ebenezer's unique blend of biomedical research expertise and technical prowess in machine learning makes him a standout leader committed to both scientific rigor and social impact.

ERDSI, established in January 2024 and formally incorporated in Ghana by January 2025, was innovated to strengthen African research through data science, clinical methods, and scientific writing meeting global quality.

Its founder, Ebenezer Senu, a Medical Laboratory Scientist and doctoral researcher at the University of Texas at Dallas brings deep expertise spanning molecular diagnostics, computational analysis, and mentorship. With over 40 peer-reviewed publications and prestigious awards like the 2024 SDG Olympiad Generative AI Award for “ViCare,” in Paris, France, Ebenezer is a recognized voice in African scientific leadership.

Co-founder, Solomon Akpobi, MLS(ASCPi)CM, a licensed biomedical scientist, works at the KNUST–IVI Collaborative Center and leads international infectious disease research across Ghana. His focus on immunological responses, malaria, HIV/AIDS, NTDs, and vaccine development firmly roots ERDSI in the priorities of public health.

ERDSI’s approach is rooted in accessibility. Through a combination of free and low-cost virtual trainings, university partnerships, and community-focused clinics, the institute delivers hands-on training in tools like R, Python, SPSS, GraphPad and AI-powered platforms. These are not just software workshops, they are capacity-building experiences tailored to Africa’s unique needs.

One of the institute’s flagship initiatives, the Data Analysis in Biomedical Research (DABR) series, has already trained hundreds of students and researchers in Ghana and beyond. With curricula designed to demystify statistics and empower critical thinking, participants gain real-world skills to improve healthcare research, epidemiological studies, and public health interventions.

Beyond training, ERDSI cultivates a pan-African network of young innovators, encouraging collaboration across countries and disciplines. The institute also explores how AI can support diagnostics, public health surveillance, and precision medicine in low-resource settings.

ERDSI nurtures a diverse cohort of data-driven African researchers. The 2025 fellows include emerging scientists from Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Uganda, and beyond, each driven to advance health and biomedical research through data science and AI.

Ebenezer’s leadership has not gone unnoticed. With a background that spans academia, medical laboratory science, and data-driven biomedical research, he represents a new era of African scientists who are both grounded in local realities and globally connected.

Why It Matters

Africa is projected to be home to one-third of the world’s youth by 2050. Without strategic investments in research and technology education, the continent risks being left behind in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. ERDSI is addressing this urgency by building a pipeline of data-literate citizens who can lead Africa’s transformation from within.

A Call to Action

As ERDSI continues to grow, it calls on universities, development organizations, tech companies, and philanthropists to partner in scaling its programs. Sponsorship and collaboration can accelerate ERDSI’s mission to democratize data science, foster innovation, and strengthen research ecosystems across Africa.

In a world driven by data, ERDSI is ensuring that Africa is not only counted but is doing the counting.