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 three (3) weeks in the 12 month incubation program, we embarked on a transformative journey with our incredible children at Ijero-Ekiti, our focus during this time was on introducing the kids, to the world of design through the innovative platform of Figma and we have witnessed remarkable growth, resilience, and talent flourish in the minds of these kids. And what started as just a class soon blossomed into profound understanding and mastery. Starting from design principles to user interface to user experience to presentations of their projects, their dedication and enthusiasm were palpable. As curators, this journey with Figma served as a testament to the belief in the transformative power of education to inspire change. For these kids, access to technology and digital skills training is a luxury they never dreamed of. Yet, with determination and perseverance, they embraced every challenge, turning obstacles into opportunities for growth. Through our Figma class, we not only taught them technical skills but also instilled in them a sense of confidence, creativity, and problem-solving abilities which are the building blocks of future leaders, innovators, and changemakers. Allow us to share with you a few anecdotes that exemplify the spirit and dedication of our kids: Ifeoluwa, a shy but determined 12-year-old, surprised us all with her weird colour combination at first then went ahead to refine that for her UI design. Despite her initial hesitation, she quickly immersed herself in the world of Figma, creating stunning interfaces. Omotade, a 16-year-old with a thing for storytelling, will probably win best user persona creator, he impressed us all with his approach to design challenges. Opemipo is 13 years old girl and she can replicate "WhatsApp's chat, status and call interface" the design team at META better prepare for an intern soon. These are just a few examples of the countless moments of inspiration and growth that unfolded during our time together. Each child brought their own unique talents, perspectives, and dreams to the table, and together. In closing, as we reflect on the impact of our Figma class, we are filled with an overwhelming sense of pride and gratitude. I invite you to join us in celebrating the extraordinary achievements of these young minds on the 6th of April 2024. With deepest gratitude and warmest regards.

For the Second time, we visited Cedar Hills Primary School Ile Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. We first visited the school in 2017 to sensitize the pupils about technology and careers in technology. Again in 2019, we visited the school again this time to further expose and introduce the pupils of school into the world of computing. We had sessions with the pupils of Nursery 2 to Primary 4 . In all we trained 54 students and we would be working with the school in starting a coding club that can further help the students learn about the world of computing.

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/