Photo credit: Summit University,Offa.
By Correspondent in Offa.
The Royal Academy of Engineering, United Kingdom, has officially launched a £98,516.00 grant programme for Summit University, Offa, Kwara State, Nigeria.
This is contained in an information available at www.AI4FS.com.ng,a copy of which was made available to The Reporters on Thursday.
According to the information, the University, recently won the UK Royal Academy of Engineering research grant for the project: Artificial Intelligence for Females in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (AI4FS).
“The commencement programme–Artificial Intelligence for Females in AI Capacity Development Workshop, Higher Education Partnerships in Sub-Saharan Africa 22/24 Programme, which took place on 21st and 22nd November 2022, aims to reduce the wide participation gap between gender and youth with a particular focus on the application of AI in STEM,” the site, said.
SUN Offa AI4FS project coordinator, Mrs Ganiyat Afolabi-Yusuf, disclosed that the high gender inequality in STEM had prevented females from accessing government initiatives and seeking learning opportunities.
He expressed optimism that the project would help increase the number of females in STEM, female employability in the AI field, and set up workshops, startups and capacity development training for females in STEM.
Other partnering higher institutions in spoke and hub university model, it added, include: Federal University of Technology, Minna; University of Ilorin, Ilorin; Kwara State University, Malete; Federal Polytechnic, Offa; Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye; among others.
The industrial partners on the project are: Susej Nigeria Limited, Eclipse Power Nigeria Limited, AI4CE Nigeria Limited, Basic Electrical Nigeria Limited and Ingenium Nigeria limited.
The Vice-Chancellor, Summit University, Offa and Principal Investigator, AI4FS project, Professor Abiodun Musa Aibinu, stated that the project’s expected outcome” is to promote the application of AI for females in their respective fields, be it Social Science, Arts and Humanities, Health, etc.”
He also urged students to participate in research activities and grant writing to promote their skills and invite innovative and employment opportunities for themselves, their institutions and the country.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
