FUTA, Cardiff Metropolitan University Secure British Council Grant for STEM Project

The Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), in collaboration with Cardiff Metropolitan University (CMU), UK, has secured a Gender Equality Partnership grant from the British Council to implement the Girls in STEM Education for Human-Centred Artificial Intelligence (HerHCAI) project.

The project, aimed at bridging the gender gap in STEM disciplines, particularly in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Human-Centred Artificial Intelligence (HCAI), will be spearheaded by Professor Olutayo Kehinde Boyinbode of FUTA’s Department of Computer Science and Dr. Omobolanle Omisade of CMU, who co-won the grant.

Professor Boyinbode, a distinguished academic and researcher specializing in AI, Machine Learning, and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), will lead a team to address biases in AI training data that often result in stereotypical and prejudiced content. Such biases contribute to disparities in education, employment, healthcare, and financial services, ultimately discouraging women’s participation in AI.

Leveraging FUTA’s expertise in HCI, Machine Learning, and Ubiquitous Learning, the project aims to provide innovative insights on reducing gender bias in AI. CMU will complement this effort by developing gender-equal AI training materials while promoting skills development, ethical AI practices, and expertise among participants.

Through this international collaboration, the project will offer participants global exposure, mentorship opportunities, and skills development sessions. FUTA scholars will engage with their UK counterparts, fostering cross-cultural exchanges and long-term research partnerships. Additionally, FUTA will contribute technological resources to develop gender-friendly AI learning modules, ensuring inclusivity in AI education and research.

The Gender Equality Partnerships grant marks a significant step towards promoting gender equality in Nigeria and the UK, specifically targeting women's under-representation in AI and STEM to create an inclusive and diverse AI ecosystem. The HerHCAI project aims not only to empower women but also to ensure AI systems are fair, unbiased, and representative of diverse demographics.

Boyinbode’s leadership in the HerHCAI project highlights her dedication to fostering gender equality and technological innovation in AI education and research. With a strong focus on AI applications for societal development, she has published extensively in international journals and conferences in this domain.

Expressing her excitement over the achievement, FUTA’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adenike Oladiji, lauded the initiative as a groundbreaking step toward gender equality in STEM education.

“This grant is a testament to FUTA’s outstanding research capacity and our commitment to promoting inclusivity in AI and STEM disciplines. We are immensely proud of Professor Boyinbode and her team for spearheading this important initiative, which will not only empower young women but also position FUTA as a leader in AI research and gender equality advocacy. FUTA remains dedicated to fostering innovation and excellence, and this collaboration with CMU is a remarkable milestone in our journey toward global impact,” she stated.