By Newspot Nigeria News Desk
A quiet but important shift is happening in how women in public service and development are approaching technology. Last week, that shift was on full display at the AI for Women in Development and Public Service workshop, where participants moved beyond theory and got directly into the work of applying artificial intelligence to real problems.
Among them was Olayinka Airat Badmus, whose reflections capture both the intensity of the sessions and the clarity many participants left with. What stood out for her was not just the range of tools introduced, but the challenge to use them meaningfully.
The workshop, held over two days, focused on practical learning. Participants worked through generative AI, prompt refinement, agent-based systems, and the ethical considerations that come with deploying these tools in public-facing roles. The emphasis was simple: learn by doing.
For Badmus, one question kept coming up throughout the sessions, how AI can be used to improve health literacy. It is a question that speaks to a deeper gap in Nigeria’s development space, where access to clear, reliable health information still shapes outcomes in ways that policy alone has not fully addressed.
During the programme, she engaged with several tools, testing how they could be used for communication, analysis, and even basic application development. From building simple dashboards to refining prompts, the experience showed how accessible these technologies have become when placed in the hands of people willing to explore them.
But beyond the tools, what stayed with many participants was the sense of community. It was a room filled with women who were not just learning, but also thinking seriously about how to lead in a space that is changing quickly. That shared purpose gave the sessions a different kind of weight.
The workshop was facilitated by the Africa Hub for Innovation and Development, with support from stakeholders including Kankanfo Kunle. The focus was not just inclusion, but readiness, ensuring that women are equipped to take on roles where technology meets policy and service delivery.
Badmus’ takeaway was straightforward: AI is not something to watch from the sidelines. It requires steady, intentional engagement.
For Nigeria, as digital tools become more embedded in everyday governance and communication, the real question is no longer whether AI will be used, but who is prepared to use it well.
— Newspot Nigeria
