By Millicent Ifeanyichukwu
A member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Miss Temiloluwa Owolabi, has organised an Artificial Intelligence (AI) literacy session for students in a public secondary school in Lagos State.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the students are from Immaculate Heart Comprehensive High School, Ikeja.
The training was to equip the students with foundational knowledge and skills for navigating an AI-driven world.
Owolabi organised the training through her personal community development project with the theme: “I, AI and You: Learning to Think, Engage and Create in an AI-Driven World”.
The training held on Thursday at Education District 2 Headquarters, Maryland.
Owolabi studied Electrical/Electronics Engineering and is carrying out her primary assignment at Greenpeg Nig. Ltd. in Ikeja.
She said that her Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) background shaped her resolve to empower the students through the project.
She said that widespread AI use, its growing influence on daily life, and its potential dangers made her to create a platform to equip children with knowledge for safe and productive AI engagement.
“AI is transforming our world rapidly. My mission is to help students to understand its power, protect themselves from its risks, and use it ethically to shape meaningful, future-driven opportunities.
“Children must see AI as a tool for growth. When equipped with knowledge, they can innovate boldly, avoid digital dangers and harness technology responsibly to secure a successful, impactful future,” she said.
Owolabi said that many children accessed the internet without adequate guidance, making it necessary to teach them responsible AI use, ethics and the skills needed to navigate digital risks confidently.
In her remark, Mrs Bolanle Apena-Mafemi, Vice-Principal of Immaculate Heart Comprehensive High School, commended the initiative.
She thanked Owolabi for identifying with students in public schools, describing the training as an out-of-the-box effort showing rare youth commitment.
Apena-Mafemi said the session addressed vital issues.
She expressed the hope that the training would strengthen the students’ understanding of the use of AI, and help them to apply technology meaningfully.
“This programme will open their eyes to the reality that AI has come to stay, guiding them to use it for value-driven purposes,” she added.
The vice-principal however called for more support, including training of older teachers to sustain learning.
She said that the school would need digital learning gadgets and more AI-related training.
One of the students, Master Yusuf Ridwan, said the training enlightened him about AI ethics, machine learning, deep learning and different AI types.
Yusuf, who hopes to study Robotics Engineering, urged more of such an initiative to help students to prepare effectively for AI revolution.
Also, Miss Margaret Okereke, who aspires to study law, thanked Owolabi for the training, saying that she learnt how to use AI positively. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Ijeoma Popoola
