Google Adds Yoruba and Hausa Language Support to AI Search in Nigeria

Google has expanded language support for its AI-powered Search features, AI Overviews and AI Mode, to include Yorùbá and Hausa, enabling millions of Nigerians to interact with AI search tools in their native languages.

In a statement released on Thursday, Google said the update allows speakers of the two widely spoken Nigerian languages to access AI-powered search experiences in their mother tongue, enabling quick summaries and more conversational exploration of information online.

The company noted that the move forms part of its broader efforts to make artificial intelligence more inclusive across Africa, with AI Search support now extended to 13 African languages.

Addressing language barriers

According to Google, expanding language support helps ensure technology reflects the identity and culture of the people who use it.

“With this expansion, more people can now use AI Mode to ask complex questions in their preferred language, while exploring the web more deeply and naturally through text or voice,” the company said.

“For Nigerians, this means existing AI features in Google Search are now accessible to people like a student in Kano asking a question in Hausa, or a trader in Ibadan seeking advice in Yoruba.”

Commenting on the development, Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, Communications and Public Affairs Manager for West Africa at Google, said the update is aimed at enabling Nigerians to interact with search technology in their native languages.

“This language support ensures Nigerians can converse with Search in their mother tongues, making information more helpful and accessible for everyone,” he said.

The 13 African languages now supported include Afrikaans, Akan, Amharic, Hausa, Kinyarwanda, Afaan Oromoo, Somali, Sesotho, Kiswahili, Setswana, Wolof, Yorùbá, and isiZulu.

Google explained that the languages were selected based on vibrant search activity across the continent to ensure AI-powered experiences reach the communities that need them most.

Expanding AI tools in Nigeria

The new language support marks the latest step in Google’s push to expand AI adoption in Nigeria.

Last month, the company also expanded access to its latest AI image-generation tools in the country, allowing users to create high-quality images directly within Google Search and Google Lens simply by describing what they want to see.

The feature is powered by Google’s newest image model, Nano Banana 2, which enables users to generate professional-quality visuals within seconds using the Google App or a mobile browser.

According to the company, the rollout is part of efforts to democratise access to advanced AI tools for students, entrepreneurs, artists, and everyday creators.

Google added that the model is designed to be fast and context-aware, producing detailed images that better reflect user prompts with improved realism and consistency.

“Nigerians are some of the most creative people in the world, and we are expanding these tools to give them new ways to express that creativity,” Kola-Ogunlade said.

He noted that a small business owner could visualise a new storefront concept in Yaba directly from a smartphone, while a storyteller could quickly develop a consistent character for a digital comic set in Lagos.

Nigeria’s growing AI adoption

Recent research suggests that Nigeria is emerging as a global leader in AI adoption across learning, work, and entrepreneurship.

The report, titled Our Life with AI: Helpfulness in the Hands of More People, was developed by Google in partnership with Ipsos.

The findings highlight the rapid uptake of AI tools among Nigerians and strong optimism about the role of artificial intelligence in driving innovation and self-employment in the country’s increasingly digital economy.