By Umar Dankano Yola
A total of fifty two (52) girl child students from eight secondary schools have been trained on Artificial intelligence(AI) and Data science courses in Adamawa state.
The participants were selected from the eight public and private secondary schools based in the state and were taken in to different science and technology oriented courses for five consecutive days with the theme “AI/Data Science for Her”.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the training at the American University of Nigeria’s(AUN) Robertson Digital library, Yola weekend, the lead facilitator,AI/Data Science Girls Club for Her. Dr. Wilson Sakpere said that their organization ‘Tech Girls Club’ focused on empowering the girl child who are believed to be at a disadvantaged position in the scheme of things not only in Nigeria but other part of the globe.
Dr.Sakpere explained that Tech Girls Club organization after deciding on how the girl child can benefit from stern courses in science and technology contacted an American organization named ‘Neural Information Processing Systems’ for the grant which was graciously approved for the intervention.
Sakpere emphasized that the training aimed at empowering boot camp equipping girls with future ready skills in Artificial intelligence,Data Science, Python programming and Digital literacy.
Sakpere added that the trained school girls understand more on Artificial intelligence,data analysis tools and a lot of things that can assist their knowledge in the science and technology oriented courses noting that the training will be replicated in the six political zones of the country as Adamawa state hosted that of the North East zone.
He therefore called on the federal and state governments to create enabling environment especially programs and policies that give private organizations like Non Governmental Organizations, NGOs’ to compliment their efforts in making life easier for citizens.
In her remarks, the program Manager of the Tech Girls Club, Miss Wonderful Osalor expressed gratitude to the founder of the Tech Girls Club, Dr Aderonke Sakpere for her vision to catch these girls at a young age so that they can be inspired in science and technology courses.
Miss Osalor stated that the enthusiasm in the students remain impressive as they have improved significantly compared to the first day of the training noting that some of them were slow in learning but joining them with the good ones and experienced tutors have changed their capabilities.
Osalor stated that the club was established in 2019 and had trained over 2,500 students on science and technology in different states across the country calling on stakeholders to sustain the computer based skills so that the students will become specialists in that direction.
According to her, the students trained were selected from GGSS Yola, Capital Secondary school Yola, Air Force Comprehensive Secondary school Yola, Ladi Atika Girls College Yola, GDSS Karewa, Ahmadu Ribadu College Yola, GDSS Lamido Sanda Yola and AUN Schools respectively.
Also speaking at the event, Acting Executive Secretary,Adamawa state Post Primary Schools Management Board, PPSM. Mr.Birsan Penuel commended the organizers of the training describing it as a turn around for girl child education and their performance in science oriented courses.
Represented by the Director of Sports of the board, Julius J.Christopher, Penuel opined that the role of the government to improve Artificial intelligence and science data can never be over emphasized urging the government to invest heavily in that regard.
In his good will message, the president of the American University of Nigeria AUN.Yola Frazier DeWayne encouraged the young stars to continue with the practice in the school and at home so that they can master the computer skills.
In their separate responses on behalf of the participating students,Adama Adamu and Moda Keran Habila thanked the Tech Girls Club for the golden opportunity accorded them to improve their skills in Artificial intelligence and Data science for Her 2026 Summer boot camp pledging to step down the knowledge to their colleagues back in their schools.
