As technology continues to shape the future, a timely investment in children’s digital skills is deemed crucial to prepare them for tomorrow’s challenges to become relevant. 

In pulling through, organisers of Project iCommunity/Co-founder of 9ijakids, Titi Adewusi, have stressed the need for concerted efforts to address the challenges of digital divide that may hinder efforts and exclude children from underserved communities. 

In addition to equipping younger ones with critical 21st-century skills, Adewusi spoke of Project iCommunity as been a deliberate effort to promote digital inclusion amongst younger ones, informing the extension of the gesture to 15 public secondary schools in underserved communities at ensuring that no one is left behind. 

The initiative, implemented in collaboration with like-minded partners, including Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL and Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), saw over 750 students selected from  15 schools  across Lagos, Delta, and Ondo States improved their know-how in artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), design thinking, problem-solving, and creativity. 

Adewusi asserted further that the project underscored the weight of public-private partnerships in building education, declaring that uniting for a common cause would significantly foster innovation and engender local and national development.  

Participants underwent an intensive five-week training, engaging in hands-on and real-world problem-solving challenges. 

Commenting further, she said, “We are deeply grateful to Chevron and NNPC for their commitment to Nigerian youth, as well as our partners, STEMMETs, The Creative Kids (TCK) Zone, Robotics 4 Kids and SeedDev. The greatest reward is seeing these students, many of whom are from underserved communities, gain skills to thrive in a digital economy and break cycles of poverty.”

The project culminated in Demo Day competitions, where top teams from each school showcased AI solutions addressing community challenges before panels of judges comprising sponsors, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, and private sector leaders. 

Winners across each state were handsomely rewarded with prizes valued at N1million.

 In Lagos State, Badore Community High School secured 1st Place with its project “Attend AI,” a smart classroom attendance system utilising facial recognition,  Ilasan Senior Secondary School took 2nd place implementing “Smart pajec classroom attendance system using AI,” while Gbara Community Senior Secondary School clinched 3rd position with project “Edubot”, a virtual assistant using AI for students’ assignment.”

One of the participating students from Ilasan Senior Secondary School, Adebayo Fawaz remarked thus, “I never imagined enjoying AI until this program. Creating an attendance system with facial recognition showed me how technology solves real problems. I am inspired to learn more.”