Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has said equipping young people with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other digital skills will expand their employment opportunities and help curb youth involvement in crime.

The governor stated this on Sunday during the inauguration of the Shaykh Adam Abdullahi Al-Ilory Centre for Computing and Digital Technology at Misbahudeen Islamic School, Ganmo, in Asa Local Government Area of the state.

Represented by the Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Dr Lawal Olohungbebe, the governor described the N13 million facility as a major investment in human capital development.

"This is one of the best things that can happen to any educational environment. These learners are citizens of this country and must be productive," he said in a statement issued by the founder of the organisation, Maruf Owoyemi.

He added, "Equipping Arabic school students with skills in AI, robotics and web design will expand their employment opportunities and help reduce youth involvement in crime."

The computing and digital technology hub, funded by Almaruf Global Works Nigeria Ltd at a cost of more than N13 million, is the first flagship project under the Almaruf Organisation for Islamic and Human Development's Arabic Schools Development Programme.

The facility will provide free training in Artificial Intelligence, data analysis, software development and other digital skills for students of traditional Arabic schools across Kwara State.

In his remarks, Owoyemi said the initiative was designed to bridge the technological gap affecting madrasa students.

"The project seeks to address the long-standing marginalisation of madrasa students by giving them access to world-class technological education," Owoyemi said.

He disclosed that the organisation plans to replicate similar digital technology laboratories in madrasas across Kwara State, noting that the government alone cannot meet all the educational needs of the people.

Also speaking, the Grand Kadi of the Kwara State Sharia Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice Abdullateef Kamaldeen, and Professor of Arabic Literature at Kwara State University, Prof. Hamza Ishola Abdurraheem, urged beneficiaries to maximise the opportunity by combining Arabic scholarship with digital technology skills to become globally competitive innovators.

"I urge the beneficiaries to maximise the opportunity by combining Arabic scholarship with digital technology skills. Such a combination would position them to become globally competitive innovators capable of contributing meaningfully to society," Kamaldeen said.