Twenty adolescents have completed a two-week Summer Beginner AI and ICT training organised by Action Health Incorporated (AHI).
The programme was designed to equip young people with foundational digital skills and prepare them for emerging opportunities. It focused on adolescent girls and boys, introducing participants to basic computer operations, hardware and software, Python programming, and introductory artificial intelligence concepts.
Participants also learnt practical applications of AI tools and demonstrated some of the skills they acquired, including developing a simple chatbot capable of generating responses from provided data.
Programme Manager Oluwafunsho Bukoye said the initiative aims to help bridge the digital divide by equipping young people with relevant 21st-century skills. She explained that AHI scheduled the training during the summer holiday so that adolescents could acquire technology skills and explore how AI could address emerging challenges.
Bukoye described the two-week programme as only a starting point and urged participants to continue learning and seek further opportunities to deepen their knowledge and skills. According to her, AHI is particularly interested in empowering young people to use technology to address issues affecting their generation. This aligns with the organisation’s focus on improving the health and well-being of adolescents and young people.
“We want young people to lead the change that they want,” she said.
She also urged parents to encourage their children to build on the skills acquired during the programme.
At the graduation ceremony, participants took part in a “Show and Tell” session. They were divided into four groups to demonstrate projects and concepts they had learnt. The presentations featured demonstrations of AI tools, explanations of basic ICT concepts, and practical applications of the skills gained. The session also allowed the adolescents to show confidence, creativity, teamwork, and the ability to communicate their understanding of technology.
Executive Director Mrs Adenike Esiet urged participants to maintain the discipline and commitment they displayed during the programme. She stressed that the two-week training should serve as a stepping stone to greater achievements and commended parents for supporting their children.
“Digital literacy and basic AI skills are no longer optional for young people,” Esiet said. She added that the programme showed that, with the right opportunity and support, adolescents can rapidly build confidence and competence in technology.
One participant, 15-year-old Ogwuegbu Justice, said the training had given him a better understanding of technology, especially because the facilitator simplified the lessons. He hopes to become a software designer and use technology to solve societal challenges.
Mrs Daudu Abosede, a parent, described the training as “wonderful” and thanked AHI and the facilitators for giving the adolescents the opportunity. She said she was particularly pleased that her daughter took part and credited the organisers and facilitators for the programme’s success. She also commended the emphasis on punctuality and discipline and expressed confidence that participants would use the knowledge productively.
The initiative forms part of AHI’s broader commitment to adolescent development and empowerment through relevant knowledge and skills. The organisation’s programmes focus on equipping young people to become healthy, productive, and active contributors to society.
