SeedDev and Dzeuls Foundation did it again, and we are not stopping anytime soon. Saturday, 21st June 2025, it was the continuation of a journey, last year we trained, mentored and graduated the first cohort of participants, and they are doing phenomenal, this year we decided to take it a notch higher by swapping interactive boards for keyboards and turning curiosity into creativity for about 300+ kids. For most of the kids, this wasn’t just about learning to use a system; it was their first time writing code, exploring artificial intelligence with ChatGPT, and seeing themselves as creators. It marked the first time they realized they could build, design, and contribute to the digital world. 30 children per batch for 10 batches, and the kids were stretched from learning digital basics like typing and mouse navigation, to writing 4 lines of code in HTML. They explored AI through ChatGPT, and we took pictures of them and converted them using prompts. They even got a taste of virtual reality when the VR headsets came on, every kid had that look on their face that screamed with amazement. Some laughed, some cried, but all were in awe. For many, it was their first time experiencing a world beyond their physical environment. Our curators worked patiently, helping kids overcome shyness and fear of damaging devices. There were challenges, but the breakthrough was greater. By the end of the day, over 180 kids had used a computer for the first time. More than 250 had written their first lines of code, and they had begun to see themselves as part of the tech future. Ijero Tech Day 2025 wasn’t just a program. It was a spark. SeedDEV and Dzuels Foundation remain committed to continuing this journey, reaching more kids, telling more stories, and opening more doors. One kid. One system. One future at a time.

On the 8th of January, 2025, we visited a school 347 km away from Lagos, in a small town in the southwestern part of Nigeria, named Imade College Owo, to kick off a project for students (aged 10-14) in public secondary schools in Nigeria to solve a problem in their school or community. The objective of the project is to promote student's critical thinking and problem-solving skills on AI and Machine Learning concepts using PictoBlox. Mutembei Kariuki, CEO of Fastagger, highlights that AI/ML's role in handling routine tasks can elevate teachers to serve more as mentors, enhancing the overall educational experience. Despite its potential, the adoption of Artificial intelligence and machine learning in African education systems faces challenges. At Imade College Owo, we selected 50 students across SS1 and SS2 to participate. They were broken into 10 teams, each working on a project throughout the training. They had to start from the basics, and we covered a detailed curriculum step by step to help them learn effectively. After a period of 8 weeks, the students were able to create projects such as a machine learning model using image classification, a system using face recognition that can detect different facial expressions, and an AI-powered virtual assistant that can respond to basic questions or perform simple tasks based on user commands. The ripple effect started when they started to train their other classmates, build simple projects that were relevant in the context of their vicinity and implement them for real-life cases. Students at Imade College Owo are on a roll, and they are pulling their weight to build 40 more projects before the end of the academic session.

The most asked question and most said statement while we were at Victory College, Ikare, was: "Do you understand? Let me know if you want me to go over it again!" Our mission was to introduce the students to the world of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) using PictoBlox. We worked with 50 students, a diverse mix of male and female, both creative and technical, quiet and hyperactive — dividing them into ten teams to ensure hands-on learning and collaboration. We started from the very basics: defining AI and its real-world applications and understanding the importance of AI in today's world. Introducing Machine Learning, its types (supervised, unsupervised, and reinforcement learning), and its applications. With this solid foundation, the students were ready to embark on their own AI-powered projects. Each team took on a unique project that tackled real-world problems in their school or community: Team 1 - Alpha: Detecting Bad Fruits Using AI. Team 2 - Bravo: Interactive Classroom Information Display Using Finger Gestures. Team 3 - Delta: Interactive Classroom Items Learning Using Object Detection. Team 4 - Echo: AI Chatbot for Mental Health Advice & Support. Team 5 - Foxtrot: Interactive School History Chatbot. Team 6 - Golf: Interactive Town Information Chatbot. Team 7 - Kilo: Smart Attendance System with Face Recognition. Team 8 - Oscar: Determining Weather Conditions Using AI. Team 9 - Sierra: Detecting Plant Health Using AI. Team 10 - Quebec: Sorting Recyclable Materials Using AI. Beyond just learning AI concepts, our goal was to empower these students to think outside the box—analyzing everyday challenges and solving them in innovative, analytical, and creative ways. And we did exactly that. The excitement, curiosity, and enthusiasm from the students confirmed one thing: The future of AI in Nigeria is bright, and we will start with young minds like these.

For nine months, a transformational journey began, SeedDev, was called to partner on a noble mission alongside its esteemed partner, Dzeuls Foundation, pioneering our eco-friendly, solar and internet-powered buildings aimed at uplifting the community. These carefully selected young learners embarked on a journey of discovery, guided by mentors who instilled knowledge and ignited their passion for innovation every week, the children immersed themselves into learning, exploring everything possible. These kids are from low income families in rural/emerging communities who have never interacted/operated a computer before. On this graduation day, we hosted what turned out to be happening in Ijero-Ekiti for the first time ever, Ijero Tech Day, the theme was ‘Empowerment for the 4th Industrial Revolution’, to shine light on the community and build an energy for a continuous movement towards STEM careers and a beautiful future. The graduation ceremony unfolded in grandeur, illuminating the faces of eager parents and esteemed guests such as the Olori Adewole Abike, wife of The Owa Ajero Of IJERO EKITI, Dr. Olabisi Afolabi-Awosanya, Rt Rev O.O Oriyomi and many more graced the occasion, lending their support and encouragement to the budding talents of Ijero Ekiti. We had a panel session where Aboluwarin Olaoluwa David, popularly called Kitan David, founder of SeedDev elaborated on the challenges and opportunities that arise when children are deeply involved in technology, especially considering their developmental stages and learning needs. While Dr. (Mrs) Olabisi Awosanya spoke from a psychological standpoint, the effects of children's interactions with technology and how it can greatly impact their cognitive and emotional development. Finally, Olori Adewole Abike, who is a Retired Permanent Secretary, Ministry Of Health, touched on how parents can strike a balance between encouraging exploration and ensuring digital wellbeing. Next session had parents stand tall, their hearts brimming with joy and gratitude as they beheld the fruits of their children's labour. The culmination of months of hard work and dedication was showcased through captivating visual demonstrations, each project a testament to the creativity and ingenuity of the young graduates. Amidst a chorus of applause, certificates were bestowed upon each graduate, a symbol of their achievement and commitment to shaping a brighter tomorrow. Yet, amidst the accolades, three exceptional students stood out, with bated breath, the audience awaited the announcement of the coveted prizes. As the names of the outstanding students echoed through the air, jubilation ensued. Three new laptops were awarded to the deserving recipients, igniting dreams of a future filled with endless possibilities. In the words of our founder, the SeedBox initiative is not merely about constructing buildings; it is about building futures—one child at a time, one city at a time, one nation at a time. As the curtain falls on this chapter of triumph and achievement, SeedDev and Dzeuls Foundation reaffirm their unwavering commitment to sculpting a brighter tomorrow. The event was proudly supported by Leadway Pensure Pension Fund Administrators, Truth-Tech Multi-Construction Company Limited, The Alice Ajibabike Family, & Boulevard Hall & Hotel. Looking forward to a beautiful future.

SeedDev Empowers Secondary Teachers and School Principals/Directors with Digital Literacy Training. In Ekiti State — SeedDev, is thrilled to announce the successful completion of a comprehensive digital literacy teachers' training program for secondary school teachers and school principals/directors at the SeedBox in Ijero-Ekiti. The training covered essential topics including Basic Computer Skills, Internet and Web Browsing, Productivity and Collaboration Software, and Video Conferencing tools like Zoom and Google Meet. The digital literacy training program has had a profound impact on the participants, enhancing their ability to integrate technology into their educational practices and administrative duties. Some of the notable impacts and success stories include: 1. Enhanced Digital Competency: Participants have gained confidence and competence in utilizing digital tools and resources effectively. This has resulted in a smoother transition to online teaching, administrative tasks, and communication with students, parents, and fellow educators. 2. Improved Educational Quality: With a better grasp of productivity and collaboration software, teachers are creating more engaging and interactive learning materials, leading to an improved quality of education for their students. 3. Efficient School Administration: School principals and directors have reported increased efficiency in administrative tasks, including record-keeping, communication, and online meetings, which has streamlined school operations. 4. Increased Digital Inclusion: The training has contributed to closing the digital divide in education, making digital resources and tools more accessible to students and educators in the region. SeedDev remains committed to its mission of empowering educators and professionals in emerging communities with digital skills. Due to the resounding success of this program, we are excited to announce plans for another digital literacy training program in the near future. The upcoming program will build on the foundation laid during this training, offering more advanced topics and further enhancing the digital skills of educators and school administrators. We will also continue to collaborate with our partners to expand the reach and impact of our initiatives. SeedDev extends its sincere gratitude to our partner, Dzuels Foundation and all participants who made this training program a success. Together, we are working towards a more digitally inclusive and empowered Africa. For more information about SeedDev and its initiatives, please visit www.seeddev.group/

Our Next stop over during the project was at L.A Primary School, Araromi in Ondo State Nigeria. Also in this school 30 students were trained and introduced to computing and coding using the SeedDEV learning application which introduces these kids to programming. For most schools in this area visited, kids growing here do not have access to computers hence,our next project is to plant a SeedBOX ( Solar Powered, Internet Enabled, Air conditioned, computer facility). Which would serve as computer facility where these kids would continue to learn even after the training.