Rural communities to benefit from AI literacy initiative

A former BBC Hausa Editor, Jimeh Saleh, has launched an ambitious initiative to bring artificial intelligence (AI) to rural and low-income communities across Nigeria and beyond. Through his nonprofit, the Amana Inclusive Technology Initiative (AITI), Jimeh is spearheading efforts to bridge the digital divide by offering AI training in local languages. At a recent AI […]

A former BBC Hausa Editor, Jimeh Saleh, has launched an ambitious initiative to bring artificial intelligence (AI) to rural and low-income communities across Nigeria and beyond.

Through his nonprofit, the Amana Inclusive Technology Initiative (AITI), Jimeh is spearheading efforts to bridge the digital divide by offering AI training in local languages.

At a recent AI Advantage Workshop held in Maiduguri, students and other aspiring entrepreneurs received hands-on training on using AI tools for business, civic engagement, and creative applications. For many, it was their first time accessing such resources in Hausa.

“AI is a fast-moving train, and Africa risks being left behind if we don’t act,” said Jimeh. “Language is one of the biggest barriers which Amana is out to remove”.

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The two-day workshop demonstrated how AI can be simplified and localised, with sessions covering prompt engineering, content creation, and market analysis which were all translated into Hausa.

Amana’s mission goes beyond training. The organisation plans to establish community tech hubs in Hausa, Pidgin, Yoruba, Igbo, Fulfulde, and other indigenous languages. The initiative will require building extensive voice and text data banks and developing language models that reflect local realities.

Jimeh’s team began by conducting listening sessions across Nigeria to understand community needs. Their research identified three top priorities: job creation, education, and public accountability which he said have now come to define Amana’s focus areas.

A veteran journalist, Jimeh’s transition from global broadcasting to grassroots technology advocacy is shaped by his career at the BBC.

During his tenure as Editor, he introduced an annual short story writing contest for women. He also led the highly successful A Fada A Cika (Words and Actions) accountability series, a town hall programme that empowered citizens to question state governors and other duty bearers and track campaign promises.

The programme’s success earned him international recognition, including an invitation to speak at the World Bank’s Global Forum on Coalitions for Reforms in Washington, D.C.

“Technology, when localised, can help farmers predict weather, improve yields, and connect to markets. Governments can use it to improve service delivery. Citizens can use it to drive accountability.

That’s the power of AI, but only if everyone has access to it,” he said.

Jimeh advocates that global tech giants operating in Africa should commit part of their profits to promoting inclusive AI literacy and skills.

“If we can democratise access to technology, we can unlock the creativity and resilience of millions,” he concluded.