- Targets 100,000 Nigerian kids
Joy Agwunobi
Digital Equity Africa has announced the launch of the first-ever Artificial Intelligence (AI) Summit for Children in Africa, with an ambitious plan to reach more than 100,000 children across Nigeria in its inaugural year.
This initiative marks Africa’s first child-focused AI conference, uniquely designed to empower children not only as users of technology but as creators and innovators within it. Through this initiative, the organisation aims to shift the narrative from passive tech consumption to active participation in shaping tomorrow’s digital landscape.
According to the organisers, the summit will kick off with the Lagos Kids Tech Fest 2025, before expanding to other major Nigerian cities including Abuja, Kano, and Enugu, as part of a national series running throughout the year.
The Lagos event, themed “Generation AI: Shaping the Future, One Mind at a Time,” is targeted at children aged six to sixteen. It will feature a dynamic blend of interactive workshops, immersive learning experiences, AI-focused exhibitions, and practical sessions aimed at nurturing curiosity and foundational skills in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.
Speaking about the vision behind the summit, Justina Nnam Oha, Convener of the Kids Tech Fest, described the initiative as more than a conference—it is a transformative movement. “This is more than a conference—it is a national movement. We are laying the groundwork for African children to not only understand emerging technologies like AI but to take ownership of them. From Lagos to Kano, we are democratising access to tech education for all,” she said.
In addition to the children-focused activities, the summit will also host dedicated sessions for parents and educators, tackling crucial topics such as digital parenting, cyber safety, tech-integrated curricula, career guidance in the age of AI, and access to learning resources.
As part of its broader digital inclusion strategy, Digital Equity Africa will also unveil an AI Learning Community, which seeks to onboard 100,000 Nigerian children in its first year. This digital hub will serve as a continuous learning platform offering mentorship, structured learning paths, and access to AI tools and educational resources, ensuring that children can sustain their learning journey beyond the physical events.
This pioneering AI Summit for Children comes at a time when the world is witnessing exponential growth in artificial intelligence, and experts argue that early exposure is crucial to preparing the next generation for the realities of a digitally-driven global economy. By targeting children at formative ages, the initiative sets the foundation for a new class of tech-native Africans—equipped not just to participate in the future of work, but to shape it.
