Over 450 participants gathered at the Agege Local Government Secretariat on Saturday for an Artificial Intelligence (AI) workshop led by UK-based technology expert and Senior Business Analyst, Babajide Sofeso. The three-hour workshop was themed “AI for Capacity Development and Productivity in Local Government” and was organised by Avanguard Consulting in collaboration with the Agege Local Government Council.
Participants at the event included civil servants, educators, entrepreneurs, students, market traders and tech enthusiasts drawn from across Lagos State as well as neighbouring Ogun, Oyo and Ekiti states. The gathering marked a historic moment for Agege, as it became the first local government area in Lagos State to host a globally recognised business and technology strategist with extensive experience in digital transformation within the United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS).
Speaking at the workshop, Sofeso highlighted the importance of taking artificial intelligence beyond corporate spaces and into local communities. “AI is no longer a luxury; it is a necessity. With the right mindset and access, communities like Agege can lead innovation,” he said. He urged participants to see technology as a practical tool for solving everyday challenges in governance, education and business.
During interactive sessions, attendees were introduced to practical applications of AI, including automating repetitive business processes for small and medium-sized enterprises, data-driven budgeting and urban planning, AI-powered chatbots for resident services, and digital learning platforms for youth upskilling and civil service retraining. These sessions were designed to show how AI can improve productivity even in environments with limited digital infrastructure.
Live demonstrations featured Sofeso’s digital tools, BIautomation.io and BPMNgenerator.com. BIautomation.io was presented as a solution that automatically detects data issues such as duplication and missing fields while recommending real-time solutions, making it suitable for organisations with low digital maturity. BPMNgenerator.com, a no-code platform, enables users to create business process diagrams by completing simple forms, removing the need for technical expertise.
Participants engaged in hands-on practice using mobile devices and laptops. Many expressed surprise at how complex concepts like data analysis and process mapping could be simplified. A secondary school teacher, Adesuwa Olalekan, described the session as eye-opening and said she plans to apply AI tools to classroom analytics and lesson planning.
Chairman of Agege Local Government, Alhaji Kareem Adeola, described the workshop as a turning point in the council’s digital journey. He announced the establishment of a Digital Empowerment Fund to support advanced training for 200 selected participants, who will serve as digital ambassadors in their communities.
Feedback from participants showed strong approval, with 97 per cent rating the workshop as extremely or very useful. Organisers also revealed plans for a follow-up initiative, “AI for Agege: The Next 100,” scheduled for the second quarter of 2026, alongside long-term plans to establish a tech incubator within the local government area. Observers described the workshop as a model for how Nigerian local governments can leverage diaspora expertise to drive grassroots digital transformation nationwide.
