23/03/2025
Mountain Top University Graduate Elevates Nigeria in Global Research
Going further, Akpu and his team enhanced DeepSORT, a top-tier object tracking algorithm, achieving an unprecedented 77% improvement in tracking accuracy. This advancement significantly enhances automated animal behaviour analysis, marking a major leap in AI-driven biological research. Their system also incorporates an intelligent contact detection mechanism that accurately identifies worm interactions, crucial for studying mating behaviours. By integrating the Segment Anything Model (SAM), object localization and segmentation were further refined.
Akpu, the youngest son of a Regional Overseer of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, Lugbe, Abuja, developed an AI-powered system to automate the tracking of Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), microscopic nematode worms widely used in genetics and neurobiology research. Traditionally, manually tracking these creatures was tedious and time-consuming, but Akpu’s innovation, powered by YOLOv8, allows scientists to instantly identify and track worms in video recordings, vastly improving efficiency and accuracy.
Going further, Akpu and his team enhanced DeepSORT, a top-tier object tracking algorithm, achieving an unprecedented 77% improvement in tracking accuracy. This advancement significantly enhances automated animal behaviour analysis, marking a major leap in AI-driven biological research. Their system also incorporates an intelligent contact detection mechanism that accurately identifies worm interactions, crucial for studying mating behaviours. By integrating the Segment Anything Model (SAM), object localization and segmentation were further refined.
Beyond benefiting scientists, this innovation positions Nigeria as a key player in AI-driven research. Akpu’s success proves that Nigerian researchers can compete globally, leading breakthroughs in science and technology. His work stands as a testament to the country’s potential, inspiring the next generation of innovators.
