Nigerian digital content creator and tech advocate, Ayeni Oluwatobi Dorcas, widely known as Misstechy, has made a compelling case for a human-centered and inclusive approach to artificial intelligence (AI) at the UNESCO-UNEVOC World Youth Skills Day 10th Anniversary Forum in Paris.
Speaking at the high-level forum themed: “Youth Empowerment through AI and Digital Skills,” Misstechy joined global education leaders, policymakers, and innovators to explore how AI is transforming technical and vocational education and training (TVET
During the panel session titled: “AI in TVET – A Tool for Empowerment or a Threat to Human Potential?,” Misstechy addressed the delicate tension between AI’s potential to democratise opportunity and its capacity to erode authenticity.
She warned about the rapid proliferation of AI-generated content on social media and its potential to mislead populations where digital literacy remains limited.
“For Africa, AI-generated misinformation is not simply an online nuisance, it carries profound real-world consequences, influencing perceptions, politics, and livelihoods,” she stated.
However, her message was anchored in optimism and possibility, saying: “AI might help bring ideas to life, but it can never replace the human soul behind true creativity,”
Misstechy emphasised that technology should remain an enabler and not a substitute for human ingenuity.In a second panel, “Policy and Practice – Skills Demand, Trends, and Institutional Readiness,” which featured UNESCO’s Borhene Chakroun and Germany’s Heike Kuhn, Misstechy brought the perspective of Africa’s digital grassroots to the forefront.
Unlike her co-panellists who spoke largely from policy frameworks, she shared real-life experiences of Nigerian youths learning and creating in resource-constrained environments, where resilience and improvisation remain central to growth. Reflecting on her own AI learning journey, Misstechy recounted how frustration initially almost made her give up experimenting with AI-generated videos.
“It was trial and error, powered by online communities that encouraged me to push forward,” she said. Her story highlighted the importance of accessible peer networks and learning communities for overcoming digital barriers.
A strong theme in her intervention was the need to align education delivery with how young people actually learn. Misstechy challenged traditional educational models reliant on lengthy lectures, arguing that they alienate a generation raised on bite-sized, fast-paced content from platforms like TikTok.
Data presented at the forum revealed that only a minority of global TVET institutions are equipped to deploy advanced AI tools, even though thousands of young people worldwide are already using AI to solve everyday problems.
Misstechy emphasised that the gap isn’t one of curiosity but a gap in access, structure, and inclusivity. Beyond digital upskilling, Misstechy emphasised a strategic truth that remains underexplored in global AI conversations.
“Africa’s true competitive advantage in the digital age lies not in mimicking Silicon Valley’s technical models but in amplifying its intrinsic human capital, creativity, emotional intelligence, cultural storytelling, and innovation born from scarcity,” she stated. She challenged the prevailing narrative of Africa as a passive consumer of imported AI solutions.
Misstechy positioned the continent’s youth as creators, innovators, and problem-solvers capable of defining global digital trends with uniquely African perspectives. She also noted that effective digital empowerment in Africa requires more than just infrastructure and funding. Central to her vision is the understanding that digital empowerment requires more than technical knowledge.
“Confidence to experiment, communities that nurture growth, and courage to fail forward are the intangible but critical ingredients missing in many policy blueprints. Infrastructure, funding, and curricula remain essential, but psychological empowerment, the belief that one’s ideas are valid and can create value, is equally non-negotiable,” she added.
She said as innovation hubs and digital training programmes expand, equal investment must be made in building safe spaces where young people can test, iterate, and refine ideas without fear of failure.
