By Esther Olaoluwa |
The Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative (BBYDI) has launched a national project to equip Nigerians with essential knowledge, safety awareness, and ethical understanding of Artificial Intelligence (AI), in line with the Federal Government’s newly introduced curriculum for basic and senior secondary schools.
The initiative, tagged “AI Literacy for Everyday People,” was unveiled on Wednesday at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Hall in Osogbo, Osun State. The launch brought together education stakeholders, media professionals, civil society groups, and innovation partners to drive nationwide AI education.
Speaking at the event, BBYDI’s Communications Director, Mr. Sanni Alausa Issa, described the project as a “national effort designed to make artificial intelligence understandable, usable, safe, and ethical for all Nigerians, regardless of age, education, or location.”
He explained that the programme aligns with the government’s new skills-focused curriculum and is built on four pillars Understanding, Use, Safety, and Ethics to help Nigerians adopt AI critically and responsibly.
“The most powerful technology in the wrong hands, or used without judgment, can deepen inequality and fuel misinformation. Our mission is to ensure Nigerians understand what AI is, use it productively, apply it safely, and uphold ethics in its use,” he said.
The initiative will embed AI literacy into basic and secondary education while reaching wider audiences through radio drama in Yoruba, Pidgin, and Hausa across Osun and Kwara States. Other components include flashcards, storybooks, train-the-trainer programmes, a draft of Nigeria’s first AI Blueprint, and an essay competition for tertiary students.
Issa revealed that experts recently validated the curriculum at a University of Ilorin workshop, adding that BBYDI’s approach combines policy, community engagement, and storytelling to reach every corner of the country.
“A farmer in Kwara can learn about AI-assisted weather predictions in Yoruba; a student in Osun can understand digital safety through flashcards; and a parent can engage with AI ethics through relatable stories,” he explained.
He reaffirmed BBYDI’s commitment to working with the Federal Ministry of Education and state agencies to turn policy into practice. He also urged the media to amplify stories of innovation and inclusion to strengthen public understanding of AI.
According to him, the initiative aims to reach 100,000 learners including teachers, students, parents, and artisans in its first year, with plans to scale nationwide.
“The future of AI in Nigeria does not belong to machines. It belongs to our people their ethics, creativity, imagination, and courage to use technology for good,” he concluded.
BBYDI expressed appreciation to the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation for its support in making the project a reality.
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