Cihan Digital Academy has graduated 22 teenagers from its Artificial Intelligence Mastery Certification (AIMCert™) programme, after a three-week intensive training that introduced participants to AI concepts and guided them in developing real-life solutions.

At the graduation and project showcase recently, participants, aged 8–18, presented AI-powered innovations addressing education, housing, health, consumer markets, and environmental challenges.

The training was conducted in two categories with children aged eight to 12 and 13 to 18. The graduation ceremony doubled as a pitch session, producing three winners from each category.

In the 13–18 category, Angel Achi emerged first with her education app StudyGeeX, followed by Kairos Achi and Christopher Chukwudifu in second and third place respectively. In the 8–12 category, Adeola Toluhi clinched first place, with Oluwadamilola Taiwo and Chizitaram Nlemadim placing second and third.

Winner of the senior category, 15-year-old founder, StudyGeeX, Angel Achi explained that her innovation was created due to a need to simplify revision by summarising large volumes of study materials into short notes and flashcards.

Chizitaram Nlemadim, who clinched third in the junior category, presented Localestay, an AI-powered tool that connects users to housing options worldwide.

The first-place winners received iPads, while second- and third-place winners were awarded cash prizes alongside cartons of noodles. All winners also received domain names and technical support to deploy their projects.

The graduates also received the AIMCert™, an ISO-recognised certificate, endorsed by the Omniversity International Council for Academic and Practice Qualifications, Missouri, United States.

The academy is also affiliated with the university of Artificial Intelligence and Experiential Education, Missouri, United States. Chief AI Officer of the academy, Dr. Celestine Achi, said the programme was designed to equip young people with future-ready skills.

“We have been training kids and teens on the concept of AI, and how to use it to build real-life solutions. Today is their graduation and the day they will showcase what they have been able to build,” he said.

Achi revealed that selected projects will receive four weeks of incubation support to develop minimum viable products. One of the Judges, Secretary General of the African Public Relations Association, Omoniyi Ibietan, said the projects reflected awareness of pressing social issues.

Registrar, National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria, Thelma Okoh, commended the participants’ ingenuity, highlighting solutions in health, road safety, waste management, and skills training.

Okoh, who is also Co-founder, Cihan Digital Academy, urged graduates to remain adaptive.