In a strategic move to bridge Nigeria’s digital divide, Rising Child Foundation, a youth-focused non-profit, has launched a capacity-building initiative aimed at enhancing digital skills and promoting ethical artificial intelligence (AI) use among youth-led civil society organisations across the South-West region.
The workshop, themed “Enhancing Digital Skills and AI Tools for Civic Engagement and Good Governance,” was unveiled at an event held on Saturday.
According to the NGO, the programme marks the beginning of a broader project designed to equip young leaders with the tools, knowledge, and ethical frameworks necessary to harness AI for positive social impact.
Delivering the keynote address, Taibat Hussain, Executive Director of Rising Child Foundation, described the initiative as a bold response to the widening digital and ethical gaps in Nigeria’s civic space.
“AI is no longer the future—it is the present. Civil society must not only adopt these technologies but must do so ethically, inclusively, and with a focus on justice and human rights,” she said.
Hussain noted that the project follows a comprehensive needs assessment conducted in 2024, which identified major gaps in digital literacy and AI readiness among youth-led organisations. Out of over 200 applications, 23 organisations were selected to participate through a rigorous screening process.
Supported by the Nigeria Youth Futures Fund (NYFF), the programme features intensive training, mentorship opportunities, ICT audits to enhance digital preparedness, and will culminate in an AI Action Summit scheduled for Osun State between May and June 2025.
As part of the initiative, the Foundation will also launch a groundbreaking policy document titled “Inclusive Artificial Intelligence for All: A Framework for Ethical Governance in Youth-Led, People with Disability, and Female-Led Organisations in Nigeria” during the summit. The document aims to serve as a blueprint for rights-based, inclusive AI governance across civil society in Nigeria.
A major highlight of the workshop was a session led by Olasupo Abideen, founder of FactCheck Africa and MyAIFactChecker, Africa’s first AI-powered fact-checking platform. In his presentation, Abideen explored AI policy development, governance, ethics, and safety standards — critical areas for organisations integrating AI into their advocacy work.
Drawing from his experience in combating misinformation, he stressed the importance of human rights, transparency, accountability, and inclusivity in AI deployment.
“Access to technology must come with a duty of care. As we innovate, we must also ensure that AI serves democracy, strengthens public trust, and promotes equity across all sectors of society,” Abideen emphasized.
In her remarks, Bashirat Abdulganiyu, Programme Manager of Rising Child Foundation and moderator of the event, highlighted the urgent need for ethical considerations when deploying AI tools in governance and civic advocacy.
Speaking on behalf of the participants, Adebowale Akintade, Executive Director of Renewed Hope for the Disabled Initiative, described the training as “an eye-opener”, pledging to apply the knowledge gained to drive social change and civic innovation in their communities.
The Rising Child Foundation reaffirmed its mission to promote responsible technology use, ethical advocacy, and inclusive governance through youth-led initiatives.
