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Tag: Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative

  • Kwara teachers hail BBYDI’s AI flashcards, storybooks

    Kwara teachers hail BBYDI’s AI flashcards, storybooks

    Teachers across Kwara State have commended the Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative (BBYDI) for introducing AI Flashcards and Storybooks designed to help young learners understand the rapidly expanding world of artificial intelligence. The resources were unveiled during a two-day AI Literacy Workshop for teachers in Ilorin, which attracted participants from public and private schools across the state.

    Developed under BBYDI’s AI Literacy for Everyday People programme, supported by the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, the flashcards and storybooks were described by teachers as “long-overdue tools” capable of modernising teaching and improving pupils’ digital readiness.

    The materials, which simplify AI concepts through age-appropriate storytelling and colourful illustrations, were tested live in the workshop as teachers worked in groups to develop stories, lesson notes, and classroom activities using the resources. Facilitators demonstrated how storytelling could break down technical concepts for children in basic schools, helping them understand how AI appears in everyday life—from digital assistants to translation apps and smart devices.

    A highlight of the training was a practical session where teachers used AI tools such as Gemini and NotebookLM to create children’s stories within minutes. One group developed an illustrated story on “contentment” for pupils aged six to eight, prompting AI to generate characters, narration, and accompanying images. Others used AI to craft short lesson summaries, video animations, and reading passages tailored to different age groups.

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    Many teachers said the experience revealed how much AI could simplify lesson planning and classroom delivery. They also noted that pupils were already interacting with AI-driven apps at home, making the flashcards and stories timely and necessary for guiding safe and responsible use.

    One teacher, Ms. Barakat Alli, described the training as “a major shift in how we think about teaching,” adding that the workshop opened her eyes to “endless possibilities” for blending AI tools with classroom instruction. Others said the resources would help them introduce pupils to emerging career paths and strengthen comprehension, especially for younger learners who respond better to stories.

    The teachers also learned how to use AI to generate lesson notes, create animations, design slideshows, prepare assessments, and conduct research. Several said the training would significantly reduce workload, giving them more time for personalised teaching.

    The workshop received support from the Kwara State Ministry of Education, whose leadership praised BBYDI for equipping teachers with skills aligned with global best practices in digital learning. Officials noted that integrating AI into classrooms had become increasingly vital as the world moves toward technology-driven economies.

    BBYDI’s Communications Director, Sanni Alausa-Issa, said the goal of the materials was to ensure that no child grows up digitally excluded. “If the future of work is AI-driven, the foundations must be laid in primary and secondary schools,” he said. “These flashcards and storybooks allow teachers to introduce AI in a way children can understand, enjoy, and apply safely.”

  • BBYDI partners Osun Govt to strengthen AI literacy in schools

    BBYDI partners Osun Govt to strengthen AI literacy in schools

    The Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative (BBYDI) has intensified efforts to spread artificial intelligence education across Nigeria, leading a two-day AI Literacy Workshop in Osun State that brought together teachers, parents, youth influencers, and top government officials.

    The programme, supported by the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation (PJMF), is part of BBYDI’s broader campaign to equip schools and communities with the digital skills required for the future of work and safe technology use.

    Officials from the Osun State Ministry of Science, Innovation and Technology and the Ministry of Education attended the sessions and reaffirmed the state’s commitment to preparing its citizens for an increasingly AI-driven world.

    The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Technology, Mrs. O. B. Jolayemi, described AI literacy as essential for promoting curiosity, creativity, and adaptability among young people. She stressed that artificial intelligence should not be perceived as a threat but as a tool that enhances human capability.

    A similar endorsement came from the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Mr. M. A. K. Jimoh, who attended the workshop and praised the depth of content delivered by BBYDI. He noted that the practical demonstrations held during the sessions aligned with Osun State’s ongoing reforms in digital and innovation education. He expressed interest in expanding the programme to more schools, adding that the state had already trained over 5,000 teachers in related initiatives but required deeper community-focused capacity building.

    One of the strongest outcomes of the workshop was the realisation among participants that artificial intelligence already shapes many aspects of their daily routines.

    Teachers disclosed that they rely on AI tools frequently, sometimes without recognising it, for drafting lesson notes, generating exam questions, marking essays, preparing letters, and creating timetables. Many said the training helped them understand how to use these tools more efficiently and responsibly.

    Parents and youth influencers also shared their experiences, noting that they use AI for health enquiries, farming research, video enhancement, personal writing tasks, and educational support for their children. These exchanges underscored that AI is not an abstract technological concept but a practical resource embedded in everyday life across professions and households.

    Despite this familiarity, many parents voiced concerns about the risks associated with increased AI adoption, particularly for children. Some expressed fears that children were becoming overly dependent on technology, while others worried about misinformation, harmful content, and unsafe online behaviour.

    In response, a significant portion of the training focused on digital safety. Participants were guided on recognising false information, setting digital boundaries at home, monitoring children’s use of AI-powered applications, and establishing safe device-use routines. The training reassured many parents who said they now felt better equipped to supervise their children’s digital interactions.

    A defining moment of the workshop came during a prompting exercise, where two volunteers attempted the same task but produced different results based on the quality of instructions given. The demonstration helped participants understand that AI performs best when users provide clear, contextual prompts, an insight that many teachers said would immediately improve their classroom work.

    Participants described the workshop as highly practical and transformative. Teachers experimented with tools like Gemini and NotebookLM, produced lesson notes within minutes, summarised long documents, and created school timetables. Parents and youth influencers explored voice-enabled AI tools and learned how to apply AI to daily tasks such as budgeting, report writing, and research.

    Several attendees shared how the training had boosted their confidence. A teacher from a public secondary school said the session had “opened a new chapter” in her understanding of digital tools, adding that she now felt better prepared to guide her students. A youth advocate described the training as “a timely intervention” that clarified misconceptions about AI and strengthened his professional skills.

    Speaking during the workshop, BBYDI’s Communication’s Director, Sanni Alausa-Issa, emphasised that AI literacy must extend beyond classrooms into homes, workplaces, and community institutions. He noted that BBYDI has developed innovative educational tools, including AI flashcards and storybooks, to help children understand artificial intelligence from an early age.

    “Our goal is simple,” he said. “We want communities, teachers, parents, and young people, to understand the technology shaping the world around them and to use it safely, responsibly, and creatively.”

  • Nigeria’s democracy, governance is for all – Youths

    Nigeria’s democracy, governance is for all – Youths

    Southern Nigerian youths have reckoned with the choice of meaningful youth participation in Nigeria’s democracy and governance.

    They spoke at a recent regional town hall meeting, championed by the Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative (BBYDI) through its YouthGovTracka project, with the theme as “Engaging Youth in Democracy: A Caution for Good Governance”.

    The event had in attendance youths from Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Cross River and Rivers aimed at raising youths to become active citizens, bridge the government-youth divide and drive public accountability.

    Leading the charge were Burabari Nleera for Rivers State, God’sLove-Divine Ngbechukwuyem for Cross River State, Abigail Agwuegbo for Delta State and Blessing Nnabugwu for Bayelsa State.

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    The convener and the Akwa Ibom State focal person for YouthGovTracka, Menyene Ekong in his welcome remarks lauded the efforts of BBYD. He stressed the importance of active citizenship and shared interest in regional and national development.

    “Today’s discourse is consultative. Therefore, I implore everyone to be open-minded, constructive and welcoming in charting ways for meaningful youth participation and government accountability,” he remarked.

    In another segment, Mr Udeme Okono, who led a keynote, said: “Youths must note that they will keep getting sidelined and kept out of governance if we do not take action and make meaningful contributions.

    “No one is going to invite you to the table with open arms, especially when you have nothing to offer. This is the part where self-development comes in; building yourself so intentionally that you become a voice,” he added.

    Miss Unyime Bush Alias JayBush, a YouTuber and technology enthusiast, who spoke on ‘Civic Technology as a Tool for Meaningful Youth Participation’ endorsed that “the YouthGovTracka platform solves the issue of equity; gathering information that is accessible to youths of both genders to drive meaningful participation in governance.”

    Presenting on ‘Youth Engagement in the Budget Process,’ Faith Paulinus, the Governance Reforms and Anti-Corruption Lead at Policy Alert stressed that “as youths and active citizens, we can only hold our leaders accountable when we know the budget, what to expect and track how revenue is spent.”

    The convening proceeded with remarkable contributions from the panellists. They were Ndueso Young – Executive Director of TeenGirls’ Development Initiative, Peace Edem – Executive Director of Youth for Change Initiative and Praise Ebitu – Vice President of the University of Uyo Student Union Government. Others who attended and contributed to the meeting include the Program Manager of BBYDI, Mr Habeeb Adewale and the Director of Youth at the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Youth Development and Sports, Mr Emmanuel Akpabio.

    The South-South Regional Town Hall Meeting also exposed participants to actionable steps such as engaging with the YouthGovTracka and other resources and tools including the Office of the Citizen Accountability Toolkit and Menu of Possible Commitment as launched and circulated for civic engagement and government accountability, among other highlights.