How Rotimi Awaye is turning AI awareness into real use in Nigeria

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to grow across Nigeria, most public discussions focus on its potential for automation, efficiency, and economic change. Yet for many students, small business owners, and professionals, the use of AI tools remains limited to basic interaction rather than real application.

This gap between awareness and practical use is what Rotimi Awaye is addressing through his work in AI education and capacity building. His focus is on helping people move from simply knowing about AI to actually using it in ways that solve real problems in work, education, and business.

Across different groups in the country, access to AI tools has increased, but understanding remains uneven. Many users generate outputs without knowing how to interpret or apply them. Awaye’s approach is to close this gap through training that focuses on hands-on learning rather than theory. So far, more than 1,000 people have taken part in these programmes, which are designed to build functional skills in using AI tools.

The training encourages participants to apply AI in daily tasks, from writing and research to decision-making and business operations. It also places emphasis on understanding the limits of these tools and how to evaluate their outputs in context. This approach is intended to reduce misuse and improve the quality of decisions made with AI support.

A major part of this work is taking place within the education system in Lagos State. Through a pilot initiative, government-approved AI training is being introduced in schools, targeting both students and teachers. The inclusion of teachers is deliberate, as it supports continuity in learning and ensures that AI education can be sustained beyond individual training sessions. By integrating AI literacy into schools, the programme aims to build long-term capacity within the education system.

Outside the classroom, the work also extends to small and medium-sized enterprises, entrepreneurs, and professionals. These groups play a significant role in the Nigerian economy and are increasingly looking for ways to improve productivity and competitiveness. The training provided to them focuses on how AI can be applied to everyday business needs such as customer communication, content creation, and data analysis. It also encourages critical thinking about outputs, ensuring that users do not rely on AI without proper understanding.

This practical focus responds to a growing concern within the digital space, where rapid adoption of AI tools is not always matched by adequate knowledge. Without proper understanding, there is a risk of poor application and ineffective outcomes. Awaye’s model aims to reduce this risk by grounding learning in real use cases.

At the centre of his long-term plan is “Project 1 Million”, an initiative aimed at equipping one million Nigerians with AI literacy. The programme is designed to be inclusive, reaching students, educators, business owners, and underserved communities. The intention is to make AI knowledge accessible beyond a narrow group of users and ensure wider participation in the digital economy.

As Nigeria continues its transition toward a more digital economy, attention is gradually shifting from awareness to practical application. The ability to use digital tools effectively is becoming more important than simply knowing about them.

Awaye’s work reflects this shift by focusing on structured learning and real-world application. It highlights a growing understanding that the value of AI depends not only on access, but on the ability of people to use it meaningfully in their daily lives and work.