Wuraola Oyewusi, a pharmacist-turned-data scientist and AI researcher, is breaking barriers in tech education by teaching AI and data science in Yoruba, creating new tech vocabulary, and inspiring a global audience to bridge the gap between language, culture, and technology.
Introduction to Data Science in Yoruba.
— Wuraola Oyewusi (@wuraoyewusi) June 26, 2022
Youtube: https://t.co/1ST1ZiiVf5#DataScience #yoruba pic.twitter.com/Cyt0u0BVT4
In an exclusive interview, pharmacist-turned-data scientist and AI researcher Wuraola Oyewusi shares how a spontaneous decision to explain artificial intelligence in Yoruba evolved into a groundbreaking initiative that has reached audiences in over 26 countries. Through her YouTube series and research paper “AI Literacy in Low-Resource Languages,” Oyewusi has developed a replicable framework for teaching AI, data science, and other tech concepts in Yoruba, coining new vocabulary and preserving cultural identity while promoting inclusivity. Her cost-effective, accessible content has resonated strongly with the 25–44 age group, proving that language plays a critical role in comprehension, relatability, and retention. Despite challenges like creating precise translations and labor-intensive subtitling, Oyewusi sees the work as a lifetime opportunity—one that blends technical expertise with cultural preservation and inspires others to start small, be consistent, and document their process.
Can we have a peek into your academic journey?
I studied Pharmacy for my first degree at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Nigeria. I am currently a doctoral postgraduate researcher in cancer sciences at the University of Manchester, UK. My research is focused on applying Natural Language Processing, a subfield of AI, to cancer clinical notes. I hail from Ogbomoso in Oyo State, Nigeria. I moved to the United Kingdom about four years ago as a recipient of the global talent visa for my work in data science, machine learning and AI. I have worked at global institutions such as Imperial College London as a data science and AI researcher and as Research Lead at Data Science Nigeria.
Introduction to AI in Yoruba 1 https://t.co/i22H3V8FB3
Introduction to AI in Yoruba 2 https://t.co/umUG6ivWae
Introduction to AI in Yoruba 3 https://t.co/LsJq1Aw3Q5
Careers in Tech in Yoruba https://t.co/KiopuQSmm8
Tech enabled Industries in Yoruba https://t.co/LIgZfP259x— Wuraola Oyewusi (@wuraoyewusi) June 26, 2022
READ FULL INTERVIEW FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE