WICE, IDEE Train Watersiders to Bridge the Gap in AI & Digital Literacy
Wisdom College of Excellence (WICE), in partnership with the Initiative for Education and Development (IDEE), has trained 72 participants on digital literacy and artificial intelligence (AI) during a three-day workshop in Iwopin, Ogun Waterside Local Government Area of Ogun State.
The training, held at the WICE campus, brought together students, teachers, artisans, traders and other participants from Ogun Waterside, Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State and other riverine communities.
The workshop was designed to equip participants with practical digital skills and knowledge of AI applications in education, business, governance, creative industries and community development.
Facilitators from IDEE took participants through practical sessions covering digital tools, AI-assisted content creation, graphic design, mobile video editing, research and the ethical use of artificial intelligence.
Speaking on the impact of the training, one of the participants, Olasubomi Monsuru Odufeso of Iwopin, said the workshop had exposed him to ways AI could be applied to creative work and small businesses.
“I can now do stickers and banners using AI to enhance them. I can also improve my writing skills with AI. I learnt that farmers, fishermen, traders and artisans can use AI to market, promote and enhance their small-scale businesses.”
Another participant, Hon. Lekan Omokemi of Iwopin, said the training had significantly improved his productivity, particularly in writing and research.
He said he could now prepare paper agreements, research fisheries strategies, develop business plans, political manifestos and speeches in minutes, tasks that previously took him several days.
A JSS student, Misturah Yahya, also expressed enthusiasm over the knowledge acquired during the workshop, noting that she learnt shortcuts, Microsoft Excel for calculations, as well as how to use AI in writing academic essays and letters.
A Muslim cleric from Ibiade said the training had also shown him how AI could support his religious duties.
“I can now enhance the quality of my sermon using AI. It helps me with research and structuring my messages better to serve my congregation.”
Students from Epe and neighbouring communities said AI could serve as a useful tool for improving their academic and creative work, including essay and letter writing, book development, graphic design, video editing, teaching, marketing and research.
The organisers said the training equipped participants with practical skills in business promotion, graphic design and visualisation, writing improvement, document development, speech and professional writing, research, surveys and documentation, knowledge management, communication, learning, policy drafting and community engagement.
As part of efforts to sustain the gains of the programme, IDEE has established a follow-up support group to facilitate continued learning, collaboration and peer support among participants.
WICE and IDEE said they remained committed to expanding digital inclusion in riverine communities, adding that advanced training sessions focusing on creative media and artificial intelligence were being planned.
WICE also announced plans to commence the third cohort of its Waterside Digital Boot Camp (DBC 3.0) in the coming week, in partnership with the Ogun Waterside Patriotic Forum.
The organisations said the initiatives were aimed at ensuring that residents of underserved riverine communities were not left behind in the rapidly evolving digital economy.
