In the town of Sagamu, located in Ogun State, Nigeria, a remarkable achievement unfolded within a Federal Government Girls College (FGGC). A group of students hailing from this institution presented an exceptional creation known as Kiki Saggy.
This smart robot, named after its birthplace “Òkìkíọlá Sagamu,” was skillfully crafted by the Robotics Team at FGGC Sagamu. The students harnessed the power of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning technology, receiving invaluable assistance from Coderina.org.
The name “Kiki Saggy” is derived from “Òkìkíọlá Sagamu.” “Òkìkí” translates to “Fame,” while “ọlá” signifies “Wealth” in English. Sagamu, situated in Ogun state, serves as the birthplace of Kiki Saggy.
As shown in a demo shared on Twitter, Kiki Saggy boasts a half-human, half-robot design. It features a head, an arm, and two legs that facilitate movement. This ingenious creation can recognise faces, engage in handshakes, exchange pleasantries, dictate items, and more.
During the event, Esther Ogunnaike, a student from FGGC and a member of the Robotic team, delivered a presentation in the presence of prominent figures including Mr. Andrew David Adejo, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, and Dr. Muyibat Adenike Olodo, Director and Principal of FGGC, Sagamu. Also in attendance were members of the press, fellow FGGC students, and other stakeholders.
Ogunnaike explained that the inspiration for the creation of Kiki Saggy, the robot, came from Dr. Olodo, who not only leads the college’s robotics team but also established a robotics center for the project. The goal was to design a robot capable of facial recognition, neck and eye movement, and picking up classroom objects, aligning with the ever-advancing technological world.
“We are happy because we should be able to move with the world. The world is moving with technological advancement, so, Nigeria cannot be left behind.”
Esther Ogunnaike during her presentation
Dr. Olodo had previously exposed students and coaches to the latest technological trends, including coding, AI, machine learning, and robotics. These initiatives have been yielding positive results in Federal Unity Colleges (FUCs). She expressed gratitude to Mr. Olajide Ademola Ajayi, the founder of Coderina Education and Technology Foundation, for his mentorship and technical support that aided the team’s accomplishments.
Mr. Andrew Adejo, the Permanent Secretary to the Minister of Education, expressed his excitement about the students’ innovation. He urged the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) to begin the process of integrating robotics and artificial intelligence into the country’s basic education curriculum.
Adejo also inspired the students with an upcoming project idea, which revolves around creating an AI system for order-taking and food service in restaurants. He reassured the girls that the federal government is ready to offer assistance for these innovative initiatives.
Although Innovation Village was not physically present at the event, we drew inspiration from @coderina‘s post on Twitter. Additionally, we have contacted Mr. Olajide Ademola Ajayi, the Founder of Coderina, who has agreed to participate in an interview for an article that will be published at a later date.
