Kaduna State Government, in partnership with Google and Data Science Nigeria (DSN), has introduced a inaugural “AI for Beginners in Hausa,” marking the first instance of artificial intelligence (AI) training in a local language.
Speaking on the feat, Kaduna State governor, Sen. Uba Sani, expressed profound gratitude to the partners for building support for women to use technology in harnessing the socio- economic development of the state and the country as a whole.
Represented by his Deputy, Dr Hadiza Balarabe, at the launch of Arewa Ladies for Tech and the mural unveiling of the AI for Beginners Learning Video series, Sani said AI is not just the future, but also the present.
He referenced Google’s pledge to a $1.5 million grant to empower 20,000 Nigerian women and youths from underserved communities with essential 21st-century skills. This includes a plan to train 5,000 women and girls in areas such as data science and artificial intelligence through the Arewa Tech4Ladies initiative.
Director of Google in West Africa, Mr. Olumide Balogun, said in his welcome address that Google’s mission was to organise the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.
Balogun said that this initiative was a commitment to enhance the representation and inclusion of women in the tech sector.
Chief Executive Officer of DNS, Dr. Bayo Adekanmbi, explained that by making AI education accessible in Hausa, the partnership was creating opportunities for innovation, entrepreneurship, and social impact.
Presenting a paper titled, “AI in Education”, director-general of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Dr. Kashifu Inuwa, said a lot had been missed because AI was not being taught in the local language.
The DG was represented by Head of the Digital Literacy and Capacity Building Department of NITDA, Dr. Ahmed Tambuwal.
