Exploring AI at the intersection of creativity, culture and learning

‎ ON Tuesday, January 20, students and teachers from nine public secondary schools in Ibadan gathered at the A-Z Hall of the Educare Trust Youth Centre for a Career Choice Seminar on Artificial Intelligence (AI) Literacy, Awareness and Prospects.

The seminar, organised by Educare Trust, brought together 45 students and 12 teachers from nine public secondary schools, creating an engaging learning environment that explored how technology and creativity can work hand in hand.

Moving beyond the conventional view of AI as a purely technical or scientific field, the seminar deliberately presented Artificial Intelligence as a creative collaborator—a tool that supports imagination, artistic expression, and innovation across disciplines.

Students were exposed to how AI is increasingly used in creative writing, visual arts, graphic design, music, filmmaking, fashion, animation, and digital storytelling, making the subject relevant to both science- and arts-inclined learners.

The seminar was facilitated by Mr Ajibola Akelebe, a seasoned software developer and designer with over six years’ experience in AI and human-centric design.

Through lectures, interactive discussions, and practical demonstrations, he guided participants through foundational knowledge of AI, its categories, its applications in both education and the creative industries, and the importance of ethical and responsible use.

A major takeaway from the seminar was the understanding that AI does not replace human creativity but enhances it. Participants learned how artists, writers, designers, and communicators can use AI to brainstorm ideas, refine creative outputs, improve research, and increase productivity while maintaining cultural relevance, originality, and human judgment.

The effectiveness of the seminar was evaluated through pre-seminar and post-seminar assessments.

The results revealed a significant improvement in students’ understanding of AI, with knowledge levels rising from 20–25% before the seminar to 65–80% afterward. Additionally, 72% of the participants expressed interest in pursuing careers connected to AI, including emerging roles that blend technology with arts, media, and creative practice.

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Adding a strong artistic dimension to the programme, Mr Oyin Oyegoke, a creative writer, delivered a brief pep talk on AI and creativity. His session illustrated how AI can support storytelling, journalism, poetry, and cultural documentation without undermining originality or artistic voice, reinforcing the idea of AI as a supportive creative partner.

In addition, Educare Trust administered a survey on Career Guidance and Development in Secondary Schools to assess the prevailing career guidance landscape in public secondary schools.

The findings and recommendations from the survey will inform future advocacy and awareness initiatives, particularly in promoting inclusive career guidance that recognises the growing convergence of technology, arts, and culture.

Overall, the seminar was aimed at preparing students and teachers for a future in which Artificial Intelligence and human creativity increasingly coexist.

By positioning AI as a creative collaborator, Educare Trust reaffirmed its commitment to nurturing innovative, expressive, and future-ready young people.