Rural girls in Ondo State will soon be exposed to an artificial intelligence-powered WhatsApp learning tool courtesy of a non-governmental organization, Slum and Rural Aid for African Child Development Initiative.
The organisation unveiled the second edition of its TechUpRuralGirls programme alongside SabiAI, an artificial intelligence-powered WhatsApp learning tool to boost digital inclusion among rural girls in the state.
According to the organization, the programme, billed to commence on September 25 at Fiwasaye Girls Grammar School, Akure, will train 30 vulnerable girls between 13 and 23 years of age, and 10 teachers from three schools in the state capital.
According to the group in a statement shared to newsmen, participants will acquire skills in computer literacy, AI literacy, graphic and web design, robotics, social media management and photography.
The NGO also said the top 10 participants would be linked with private and government partners for internships, while ICT clubs and inter-school competitions would be created to sustain learning.
On the SabiAI platform, the group explained that the tool would deliver literacy, numeracy and digital skills in multiple local languages via chat and voice, making education accessible to more children in rural communities.
Quoting the National Bureau of Statistics, the group noted that women made up only 22 per cent of engineering and technology graduates in the country, while data from the International Telecommunication Union shows that more than half of the world’s women lack internet access.
Founder of SARAFACDI, Blessing Dada, said the initiative was designed to close gender gaps in digital literacy
“TechUpRuralGirls II and the launch of SabiAI represent a new frontier for inclusive education. By combining face-to-face digital skills training with an AI-powered WhatsApp platform, we are breaking barriers of access, language and cost. This ensures that rural girls and indeed all children can learn, innovate and lead in Nigeria’s digital future,” Dada was quoted to have said.
The NGO said the programme would run from September to November 2025, with the SabiAI pilot targeting 200 children in rural Ekiti and Ondo States.
