The Aid for Rural Education Access Initiative (AREAi) has partnered with the Raspberry Pi Foundation to expand artificial intelligence (AI) literacy among young people and educators across underserved communities in Northern Nigeria.

The partnership will see the implementation of Experience AI, a global AI literacy programme, across Adamawa, Borno, Benue and the Federal Capital Territory, marking the first large-scale rollout of the programme in Northern Nigeria.

Under the initiative, 450 educators will be trained as certified Experience AI facilitators and equipped to deliver AI lessons to an estimated 16,000 students and community beneficiaries across the participating states.

The programme is designed to introduce learners to the fundamentals of AI, how AI systems work, responsible use of the technology and practical applications for addressing real-world challenges in underserved and rural communities.

Global Executive Director of AREAi, Prince Gideon Olanrewaju, said the partnership would help ensure that vulnerable populations, including refugees and displaced learners, are not excluded from the opportunities created by the AI revolution.

“This partnership is a testament to our resolve to enable access and opportunity for disadvantaged communities. We can’t afford to leave behind refugee populations and displaced learners in this AI revolution,” Olanrewaju said.

He added that the collaboration would go beyond teaching AI literacy to empowering young people to innovate, solve problems and contribute to positive change in their communities.

The partnership comes at a time when AI is increasingly influencing sectors including education, healthcare, agriculture, public services and the future of work, making foundational AI literacy an increasingly important skill.

However, access to quality technology education remains uneven, particularly in rural, conflict-affected and humanitarian communities.

According to the partners, the initiative is intended to address this disparity by expanding access to structured AI education and ensuring that geographical location does not determine young people’s ability to participate in the opportunities created by emerging technologies.

Chief Executive Officer of the Raspberry Pi Foundation, Philip Colligan CBE, welcomed AREAi into the Experience AI global network of partners, saying the collaboration would help educators develop the confidence and skills required to teach AI.

“We are delighted to welcome AREAi to our Experience AI global network of partners. Working together with AREAi, we look forward to equipping teachers with the skills needed to teach AI confidently, ensuring it’s both engaging and relevant for their students,” Colligan said.

He added that the partnership would support young Nigerians in developing a foundational understanding of AI and its potential role in their lives.

Experience AI was co-developed by the Raspberry Pi Foundation, a global computing education charity, and Google DeepMind. The programme provides free, ready-to-use lesson plans and classroom resources designed to help young people develop practical knowledge of AI.

Head of Google DeepMind Impact Accelerator, Anna Koivuniemi, said the launch of Experience AI in Nigeria would provide more young people with opportunities to understand and engage with AI.

“As AI continues to shape our world, it’s crucial that every young Nigerian has the chance to learn more about and engage with this transformative technology,” Koivuniemi said.

She noted that greater access to AI education could help young people make informed decisions about AI applications in their daily lives while encouraging safe and responsible use of the technology.

AREAi said the partnership aligns with its broader mission of expanding access to quality education among underserved populations. Over the past decade, the organisation has implemented technology-enabled and offline learning solutions, particularly in rural and humanitarian communities across Africa.

The implementation of Experience AI, it said, represents another milestone in its efforts to equip young people with the digital skills needed to participate meaningfully in an increasingly technology-driven world.

Please follow and like us: