The Royal Academy of Engineering, United Kingdom, has officially launched a £98,516.00 grant programme for Summit University, Offa, Kwara State, Nigeria.
Summit University, Offa, (SUN, Offa), Kwara State 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.
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; thus, the project will 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 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; just to mention but a few. 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.
