The governments of Kwara and Osun States have expressed strong commitment to partnering with the Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative (BBYDI) to promote artificial intelligence (AI) literacy and localise AI education across schools as part of efforts to prepare students for a technology-driven future.
In Osun State, the government, through the Ministries of Education and Science, Innovation, Technology, and Digital Economy, commended BBYDI’s AI Literacy for Everyday People project, describing it as a timely intervention that aligns with the state’s digital transformation agenda and the Federal Government’s new national curriculum, which prioritises creativity, skills-based learning, and digital competence.
During courtesy visits to both ministries in Osogbo, BBYDI’s Communications Director, Sanni Alausa-Issa, briefed officials on plans to integrate AI literacy into classroom learning through storytelling, culturally relevant materials, and teacher training.
Speaking at the Ministry of Education, Permanent Secretary Mr. Adekilekun Jimoh lauded the initiative as a forward-thinking step toward equipping students with digital skills.
“AI literacy is the future of education, and Osun State is ready to be part of it,” he said. “We will nominate teachers and identify schools where this initiative can take root immediately.”
At the Ministry of Science, Innovation, Technology, and Digital Economy, Director of Science and Innovation, Mrs. Lateefah Olanrewaju, praised BBYDI’s inclusive approach, noting that delivering AI education in local languages such as Yoruba, Hausa, and Pidgin ensures that “no learner is left behind.” She urged BBYDI to partner with existing innovation hubs for wider reach across Osun communities.
Similarly, in Kwara State, the government endorsed the AI Literacy for Everyday People project during courtesy visits by the BBYDI team to the Commissioners for Education and Human Capital Development, Dr. Lawal Olohungbebe, and Youth Development, Ambassador Ndanusa Usman Shehu, in Ilorin.
Dr. Olohungbebe described the initiative as “a timely and forward-looking effort that complements the Federal Government’s curriculum reform and aligns with Kwara’s vision for 21st-century education.”
He encouraged BBYDI to formalise its collaboration with the Ministry through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to integrate AI literacy into school curricula and strengthen teachers’ capacity.
On his part, Amb. Shehu applauded the project as “a crucial step towards preparing young Nigerians for the realities of a digital world.”
“We cannot continue to talk about youth development without preparing our young people for the technological future that is already here,” he said, pledging the Ministry’s readiness to mobilise youth groups and schools across the state.
Explaining the project, Alausa-Issa said it is designed to make AI accessible, ethical, and inclusive for Nigerians of all literacy levels.
“We are using storytelling, radio dramas, illustrated handbooks, and flashcards for schools, all in local languages to make AI learning relatable and sustainable,” he explained.
Supported by the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, the project includes a train-the-trainer programme for teachers, parents, and youth leaders, alongside an AI Blueprint Draft to guide national discussions on digital ethics and inclusion.
Both Kwara and Osun State governments pledged to collaborate closely with BBYDI to embed AI literacy into formal and informal education systems, signalling a shared commitment to advancing digital education and preparing the next generation for the AI-driven economy.
