By Etop Ekanem, ILORIN
No fewer than 700 students and 130 teachers in Kwara State have received hands-on training in artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and other digital skills at the 2026 edition of STEM Africa Fest, held at the Ilorin Innovation Hub.
The two-day programme, held on July 2 and 4, was organised by STEM Africa Fest in partnership with IHS Nigeria and the Kwara State Government as part of efforts to equip young Nigerians with future-ready technology skills.
According to the organisers, the festival targets children between the ages of seven and 15 and has reached more than 25,000 children across nine African cities since its inception in 2021. They noted that the return of the programme to Ilorin reflects a sustained commitment by IHS Nigeria and the Kwara State Government to expanding access to quality STEM education.
The event opened with a Mini AI Bootcamp for 126 secondary school students, where participants learnt to use generative AI tools to develop games and websites. One of the students successfully built a website for a proposed business during the practical session.
Simultaneously, 130 teachers from schools across Kwara State underwent intensive training on learner-centred teaching methods and practical classroom strategies aimed at improving the teaching of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects. Organisers said the programme was designed to enable teachers transfer the acquired knowledge to more students.
The festival also featured a fireside chat on “The Role of Regulation in Shaping the Future of Technology,” delivered by IHS Nigeria’s Director of Regulatory Affairs, Mr. Saidu Abdullahi, while goodwill messages were presented by Dr. Adetola Salau, Special Adviser to the Minister of Education, and Dr. Rasheed Ajao, who represented the Kwara State Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Dr. Lawal Olalekan Olohungbebe.
A panel discussion on “Will AI Replace Humans?” featured experts including Iyabo Umar of IHS Nigeria, Dr. Abdulwaheed Musa of the Centre for AI and Machine Learning Systems, Kwara State University, and AI Engineer Idris Muniru.
Speaking at the event, Director of Sustainability at IHS Nigeria, Titilope Oguntuga, said the company’s support for STEM Africa Fest aligns with its commitment to preparing young people for the future.
“At IHS Nigeria, we believe every child deserves the opportunity to develop the skills needed to thrive in the future. Through initiatives like STEM Africa Fest, we are investing in young minds and helping to build a generation equipped to solve real-world challenges through technology,” she said.
Co-Convener of STEM Africa Fest and Co-founder of 9ijakids, Titi Adewusi, said the large turnout underscored the growing interest in technology among young Nigerians.
“700 young people from Kwara State engaging with AI, robotics, coding and engineering in a single weekend reinforces exactly why we show up across nine African cities, year after year. Every child in that room is a future builder. Our job is to make sure they know it.”
