..Develops first Hausa-Language AI learning Series to empower women

By Prince Osuagwu, Hi-Tech Editor

Northern Nigeria is fast opening up for development. Interestingly, technology is at the heart of it. Unlike in the past when western education used to be a taboo in northern Nigeria, the current crop of northern leaders is not only opening up spaces for such, they are going the extra mile of taking education to the women.

Kaduna state Governor, Uba Sani is one of such leaders. Whatever he did to attract the attention of tech giants, Google is reverberating across the entire Nigeria as technology and education enthusiasts gathered in the state yesterday to behold a new dawn.

It was the launch of an initiative aimed at empowering women in Northern Nigeria through AI education. Big deal!.

Kaduna State Government, partnered Google and Data Science Nigeria for the initiative tagged AI for Beginners Learning Video Series. The series presents Artificial Intelligence concepts in Hausa, making some of the complex technology concepts more accessible and culturally relevant for the region.

In Northern Nigeria, there are various challenges which had impacted access to tech education and career opportunities. These include diverse socio-cultural dynamics, infrastructural limitations, and language barriers. These are the problems the AI for Beginners Learning Video Series, came to solve. The series is capable of doing that through its engaging animations and culturally relevant imagery. They are designed to make complex digital concepts more accessible and relatable, fostering inclusivity and participation in the growing tech sector.

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Flagging off the project at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Hall in Kaduna, an excited Gov Sani  underscored the government’s commitment to digital transformation and economic growth, celebrating the immense potential technology education could bring to the Northern Nigeria’s women.

He said: “AI is not just the future; it’s the present. By equipping our people, especially our women, with AI skills, we’re not only paving the way for a more prosperous and innovative Northern Nigeria, but also laying the foundation for Kaduna to become a thriving tech hub.”

“We believe that technology can be a powerful force for change and are committed to making learning resources available in local languages to empower more people”.

Director, Google West Africa, Olumide Balogun said: “This series marks a new milestone in our ongoing efforts to enhance AI knowledge across Northern Nigeria, fostering a broader understanding and application of AI technologies that drive innovation and create new job opportunities.”

That is also as Dr. Bayo Adekanbi, CEO/Founder of Data Science Nigeria added that “by making AI education accessible in Hausa, we’re creating opportunities for innovation, entrepreneurship, and social impact.These women are the future leaders and innovators of Northern Nigeria, and AI is the tool that can amplify their potential.”

Google said the AI for Beginners Learning Video Series is now available on YouTube via the Data Science Nigeria platform, on the NITDA education portal.. The series has also been deployed on USB drives for distribution and direct peer-to-peer copy at all primary and secondary schools, including public video content copying centres across Kaduna State.