Diocese of Nnewi sets up AI, Robotics digital innovation hub

The Diocese of Nnewi Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has set up the first Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Robotics Hub in Nnewi, Anambra State, where the church recorded the first of its kind service in the country and, perhaps, in Africa. At a ceremony to commission the hub at Bishop Uzodike Memorial Seminary, the elated Bishop of the Diocese, Rt. Rev’dNdubuisi Obi, said the church has taken a giant leap into the future with the establishment of the hub.
He recalled that three years ago, the church embarked on a journey that some thought was a bit ambitious and wild.

Disclosing how the church taught their secondary school students about Robotics coding and AI, Obi said: “We went from Sunday sermons to coding classes, from prayer meetings to AI workshops. And you know what, our students loved it.

“Our students didn’t just want to learn, they want more. They want to dig deeper, explore further and be more than just participants. They want to be creators, innovators and leaders in the new technological world.And as their Bishop, I could not just sit back and watch their enthusiasm fizzle out. We needed to find a way to keep this momentum going, sustain their interest, and feed their curiosity.

Narrating how the idea was conceived, Obi said: “We knew it was a massive project, so, we decided to roll up our sleeves and build a lab that would not only sustain our students’ interest, but also put our Diocese on the map as a leader in technology education.”

The Bishop applauded the partner, EDUFUN Technik, led by Uchenna Onwuamegbu-Ugwu, for making the project a reality. Noting that the Diocese was planting seeds of innovation, the Bishop said the students would be inspired to pursue careers in cutting-edge fields, including Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Data Science, Cybercrime Security and IoT, among others.

He said some of them would become AI engineers, Robotics specialists, software developers or tech entrepreneurs. Onwuamegbu-Ugwu in response expressed delight to be part of the success story of the project, describing it as a place where the future begins.

She disclosed that the journey started 10 years ago when she had a vision to bring technology, coding, and Robotics into the lives of the students. She said she started going from school to school, one diocese to another, to share the vision and also to urge the church authorities to adopt the programme for its potentialsin the children’s future.

I knocked on many doors, traveled to different places and spoke to different leaders without much result until 2021 when I finally met the Bishop of Diocese of Nnewi Anglican Communion, Rt. Rev’dNdubisi Obi, and I was assured with certainty that once the Bishop hears about this, it will be a done deal.

“From the moment Bishop andI spoke, I knew this was a turning point. His vision, his leadership and his unwavering commitment to the future of his students were nothing short of inspiring.

“He saw the potential of this programme and understood that it was not just about keeping up with the times, but also about giving our children the tools they need to excel, thrive and lead in this rapidly changing world. He wants the best for his children,” she said.