Former Ogun State First Lady and Yeye Moremi Oodua, Mrs Olufunso Amosun, has commissioned the YMO AI and Digital Training Hub in Ile-Ife, Osun State, as part of efforts to equip young people with relevant technology skills and prepare them for opportunities in the global digital economy.

The initiative, established in honour of the legacy of Moremi Ajasoro, provides tuition-free training in artificial intelligence, graphic design, coding, social media management and other commercially relevant digital skills.

Speaking at the commissioning, Amosun said the project was conceived to ensure that young people in Osun State, beginning with Ile-Ife, were not left behind as the world increasingly embraces digital technology.

She said, “We know that the world is going digital, and we don't want our young ones in Osun State, Ife—starting from Ile-Ife—to be left behind. So, we've created this training hub to grant access to the future generation to come and learn AI and digital skills here free of charge.”

Amosun disclosed that the facility had a capacity for 30 trainees at a time and would operate three sessions daily.

The sessions are scheduled for 9am to 11:30am, 12pm to 2:30pm and 3pm to 5:30pm, with participants attending classes three times a week.

According to her, each training programme would last six weeks, with about 360 young people expected to benefit from each cohort.

She explained that the curriculum was deliberately designed around high-demand commercial skills to enhance the employability of beneficiaries immediately after completing their training.

“And the curriculum has been structured in a manner that as soon as you finish here, you can be gainfully employed. We're teaching them commercial skills that are marketable —graphic design; everybody knows the needs of a social media manager,” she said.

The former First Lady said the centre was designed as a sustainable alternative to conventional vocational training centres, with plans to continuously update its modules as technology and market demands evolve.

She added that unemployed graduates, young people and technology enthusiasts would be able to acquire skills that could improve their competitiveness in the rapidly changing digital economy.

Also speaking, the Global Ambassador of the Queen Moremi Ajasoro Initiative, Olori Aderonke Ademiluyi-Ogunwusi, said investment in artificial intelligence and digital skills could help address youth unemployment while increasing the contribution of young Nigerians to the economy.

Ademiluyi-Ogunwusi said the United Nations had projected that Africa would have about 450 million people below the age of 35 by 2030, making youth skills development increasingly important.

She said equipping young people with skills in AI, graphics, entrepreneurship and other digital fields would improve their employability and enable them to create opportunities for themselves.

She further noted that the number of graduates produced annually in Nigeria exceeded the availability of conventional white-collar jobs, stressing that digital skills could provide young people with alternative pathways to economic participation and contribute to the nation's Gross Domestic Product.

Meanwhile, Olori Olayinka Folashade Ashley Ojaja Ogunwusi urged young people to take full advantage of free digital skills acquisition programmes, describing the initiative as a valuable opportunity in an increasingly technology-driven world.

She commended Amosun for making technology training accessible to young people, noting that acquiring digital skills ordinarily required significant financial investment.

Olori Ashley encouraged the beneficiaries to approach the programme with commitment and determination, stressing that continuous self-development remained essential for young people seeking to remain relevant in the global digital economy.

Other activities during the event included the commissioning of the renovated Moremi statue at Moremi Hall, Obafemi Awolowo University, and the donation of academic ma also paid homage to the Ooni of Ife, His Royal Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, during the Olojo Festival, with royal prayers offered for the longevity and wellbeing of Yeye Moremi Oodua and members of her entourage.