By Mariam Alabi
The Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative (BBYDI), a non-governmental organisation has unveiled 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 reformed curriculum for basic and senior secondary schools.
The initiative, tagged ‘AI Literacy for Everyday People’, was launched on Wednesday at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Hall in Osogbo, Osun State. The event drew participants from the media, federal and state education ministries, civil society organisations, educators, and innovation partners.
Making AI accessible to all Nigerians
Speaking at the launch, BBYDI’s Communication Director, Sanni Issa, described the project as a national effort to make artificial intelligence “understandable, usable, safe, and ethical for all Nigerians, regardless of age, education, or location.”He said the initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s new curriculum reforms focused on creativity, skills, and values-based education.
“This is the Nigeria we have always envisioned, a country where education keeps pace with the world, and where technology is guided by ethics, safety, and inclusion, not exploitation,” he stated.
Mr Issa further explained that the AI Literacy for Everyday People programme is anchored on four key pillars including: Understanding, Use, Safety, and Ethics, to help citizens not only adopt technology but also engage with it critically and responsibly.
“The most powerful technology in the wrong hands, or used without judgement, 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 added.
From classrooms to communities
According to Mr Issa, the initiative features a comprehensive approach that includes framework and curriculum incorporation, ensuring that AI literacy is embedded in both basic and secondary school education.
He added that it also comprises a radio drama series to be aired in Yoruba, Pidgin, and Hausa across Osun and Kwara States to simplify AI concepts for diverse audiences.
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Other components of the programme, he noted, include flashcards for primary schools, storybooks for secondary schools, train-the-trainer programmes for teachers, parents, and youth community champions, a draft of Nigeria’s first AI blueprint, and an essay competition for tertiary institution students to inspire critical thinking and innovation.
While he mentioned that a validation workshop for the AI literacy curriculum was held last week at the University of Ilorin, where experts and educators reviewed the materials for nationwide adaptation; he emphasised that BBYDI’s strategy is to ensure that AI education reaches every corner of Nigeria, combining policy, community engagement, and storytelling.
“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.
A vision for inclusive AI education
Mr Issa reaffirmed BBYDI’s commitment to work with the Federal Ministry of Education and relevant state agencies to make AI literacy a national reality. “Our project complements the new curriculum. It turns policy into practice; one school, one teacher, one community at a time,” he said.
He called on the media to support the initiative by amplifying stories of innovation and inclusion. “Tell the story of the teacher who used AI to prepare lessons, the student who found her passion for coding through our radio series, and the parent who learned that AI is not to be feared but used wisely,” he urged.
Targeting 100,000 learners in first phase
According to Mr Issa, BBYDI aims to reach 100,000 learners, including teachers, students, parents, and artisans, in the first year of implementation, with plans for nationwide expansion.
He expressed gratitude to the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation for its support in making the initiative a reality.
“The future of AI in Nigeria does not belong to machines. It belongs to our people; their ethics, their creativity, their imagination, and their courage to use technology for good,” he stated.
About BBYDI
BBYDI is a nonpartisan and not-for-profit civic organisation dedicated to fostering socio-political change and community development in Nigeria.
Its primary focus is on equipping and empowering young people and local communities to drive sustainable development from the grassroots level.
