FUTA, Cardiff Metropolitan University to Co-Host HerHCAI 2026 Workshop on Women, AI

The Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), in collaboration with Cardiff Metropolitan University (CMU), United Kingdom, will co-host the HerHCAI 2026 Workshop, a two-day international capacity-building programme focused on promoting women's participation in Artificial Intelligence (AI).

The workshop, themed "Empowering Women through Human-Centred AI for Gender Equity and Sustainable Development," will be held on Wednesday, July 29, and Thursday, July 30, 2026, at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State.

The programme is funded by the British Council through its Gender Equality Partnerships Grant programme, which supports cross-cultural collaborations between institutions in the United Kingdom and partner countries to promote women's empowerment, inclusive leadership, sustainable development, collaborative research, innovation, education, and knowledge exchange.

According to the organisers, the HerHCAI 2026 Workshop represents a strategic international partnership between FUTA and Cardiff Metropolitan University aimed at strengthening women's participation and leadership in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).

The initiative seeks to enhance the knowledge, technical skills, and leadership capacity of women and girls while promoting the development of Human-Centred Artificial Intelligence (HCAI) that is ethical, inclusive, fair, and responsive to societal needs.

The organisers noted that while Artificial Intelligence is transforming sectors such as healthcare, education, agriculture, finance, governance, manufacturing, and the creative industries, women remain underrepresented in AI education, research, entrepreneurship, and leadership.

They stressed that addressing this imbalance is essential to ensuring that AI systems are designed to reflect diverse perspectives and serve society equitably.

The workshop will bring together academics, researchers, policymakers, industry experts, development partners, entrepreneurs, students, and civil society organisations from Nigeria, the United Kingdom, and other countries to explore how Human-Centred AI can advance gender equity, responsible innovation, and sustainable development.

Activities lined up for the two-day programme include:

• Keynote addresses
• Technical presentations
• Expert panel discussions
• Networking sessions
• Practical hands-on workshops

A major highlight of the workshop will be an interactive practical session where participants will use generative AI tools to identify gender and other forms of bias in AI-generated outputs. Participants will also receive training on prompt engineering techniques to produce more inclusive, ethical, and human-centred AI responses.

Another major attraction of the programme will be an interactive panel discussion titled:

"Women in Artificial Intelligence: Challenges, Opportunities and Leadership for Sustainable Development."

The session will feature experts from academia, industry, government, and international organisations who will discuss strategies for increasing women's participation and leadership in AI research, education, entrepreneurship, policymaking, and innovation.

Speaking ahead of the event, the Workshop Convener, Prof. Olutayo Boyinbode of FUTA's School of Computing, described the workshop as a significant milestone in promoting inclusive AI education and strengthening international collaboration.

According to her, Artificial Intelligence is shaping the future of societies and economies, making it essential for women to actively participate in its design, development, deployment, and governance.

She noted that the partnership between FUTA and Cardiff Metropolitan University, supported by the British Council's Gender Equality Partnerships Grant, is designed to equip women and girls with the knowledge, confidence, and practical skills required to become leaders in ethical and Human-Centred Artificial Intelligence.

The organisers stated that the workshop aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly:

• SDG 4: Quality Education
• SDG 5: Gender Equality
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

They added that by combining expertise from Nigeria and the United Kingdom, the partnership aims to strengthen international cooperation, promote inclusive technological innovation, and inspire a new generation of women leaders who will shape the future of Artificial Intelligence for the benefit of society.