Digital transformation consultant and CEO of AgilePlus Limited, Babajide Arulogun, is encouraging young Nigerians to move beyond using commercially available artificial intelligence tools to developing their own digital solutions to everyday problems. In this interview with Naijachronoscope, he speaks on the opportunities AI presents for youth empowerment, how he acquired his skills through self-training, the challenges aspiring innovators may encounter, and why understanding business is as important as mastering technology.

For many young Nigerians, artificial intelligence (AI) is a convenient tool for writing, research, image generation and simplifying everyday tasks. But for digital transformation consultant Babajide Arulogun, the technology offers opportunities far beyond these familiar applications.

Arulogun believes that the future belongs not merely to those who know how to use AI tools, but also to those who can harness them to develop digital products that solve identifiable problems and generate economic value.

His approach is rooted in a simple but powerful philosophy: problems should not always be avoided; they should be examined for the opportunities they present.

Drawing on his background in IT project management and experience in AI-powered product development, Arulogun is encouraging young Nigerians to become creators rather than remain consumers of technology.

At the October 2026 edition of the ROSE OF SHARON FOUNDATION Youth Empowerment Programme (YEP), themed Harnessing AI-Driven Resources & Exploring the Circular Economy for a Sustainable Future, he introduced participants to the fundamentals of artificial intelligence, commercial AI platforms and the process of developing their own digital solutions.

In this interview, Arulogun explains why problem identification is the starting point of innovation, how locally developed AI solutions could address Nigeria's peculiar needs, the pitfalls aspiring entrepreneurs must avoid, and why technical expertise alone may not translate into commercial success.

Understanding AI and building digital products

You recently conducted an artificial intelligence training session for young people. What was the central objective of the programme?

The session was about artificial intelligence for young people, so they could develop a clear understanding of what AI is, both in its generic form and in technical terms. The objective was to equip them with the knowledge to harness the technology effectively.

We started by explaining what artificial intelligence is and introducing them to commercially available AI tools they could leverage to improve their work processes or create products.

We then moved beyond using existing tools to show them how to create actual digital products that address identified problems.

One important thing we emphasised was that product development does not begin with rushing to create something. It begins with identifying a problem and articulating it clearly.

You must be able to express the problem in understandable terms and engage artificial intelligence appropriately to refine your ideas, critique them and develop the necessary product artefacts.

These artefacts can then be handed over to a programmer, who can turn them into an actual product.

That was essentially what we covered during the session.

What specific AI tools did you introduce to the participants, and how can they use them effectively?

When we discussed research, we introduced them to examples of agentic AI tools, including Kimi, Claude and MANUS. We recommended these tools for research-related tasks while also introducing them to other generative AI platforms, such as Gemini, DeepSeek and ChatGPT.

However, we did not concentrate primarily on teaching them how to use commercially available AI tools.

Our greater emphasis was on helping them understand how to create their own tools rather than continually relying on platforms such as Claude and Gemini.

The objective is for them to develop tools that can be deployed commercially or privately to optimise work processes and improve their socioeconomic circumstances.

How does this training differ from the first edition held at YABATECH?

The first edition at YABATECH focused more on helping participants use commercially available artificial intelligence tools as they were.

They learnt how to take their problems to these platforms to create slides, conduct research, generate pictures and perform other tasks.

This time, we went further. We taught them how to create the tools themselves rather than merely use existing ones.

The idea is to empower them to build their own digital products that other people can access and use.

Turning problems into opportunities

Why do you think opportunities like this are sometimes overlooked by young people?

Sometimes, when people see opportunities like this, they do not understand what is contained in them. They see them as just another gathering.

However, those who attended can testify to how life-changing the experience can be. You could hear another consultant talking about what he learnt from the previous session and how that knowledge had affected his organisation.

We are talking about ideas that can have significant economic value. The government has made substantial investments in initiatives of this nature, and someone can pick up an idea from a session and apply it in a way that transforms an organisation.

Glory to God. That is the essence of this initiative. It is a youth empowerment programme.

What lasting impact do you expect the training to have on the participants?

The session began by provoking their thinking and exposing them to digital solutions already powered by artificial intelligence. We wanted them to see what is possible and begin to imagine what they, too, could create.

We also encouraged them to examine the value chain within their respective career paths.

They need to look beyond where they are presently and identify opportunities higher up that value chain. They should ask themselves: What problems exist in this field? Which of these problems are worth solving? Which solutions would people be willing to pay for?

When you solve the right problem, people begin to look towards you because you have something valuable to offer.

Our hope is that the training will encourage them to convert problems into opportunities, whether in their careers or within their communities.

Many people naturally run away from problems. We want them to begin seeing problems from another perspective: as potential resources for growth and greatness.

First, the programme changes how they perceive problems. Secondly, it challenges them to explore how solving those problems can improve their socioeconomic circumstances.

Ultimately, we want them to enter the world with a different mindset, use AI tools creatively and develop solutions that people will be willing to pay for.

Does this mean young Nigerians should begin looking beyond popular platforms such as ChatGPT and DeepSeek?

Exactly. We should be getting ready for the immediate future, when we will begin to see more digital products developed by Nigerians to address our needs.

When people talk about AI, the names they readily mention are ChatGPT and DeepSeek. But there is much more to the technology than using these platforms. You can create your own chatbot, for instance.

My team and I have developed no fewer than three chatbots. Some are still being tested because we want to ensure they have distinct features and are not merely duplicates of existing products.

I mentioned during the session that we have developed a deity-like chatbot that can speak to you in the manner of a prophet. It can say things that may surprise you, almost as if you are looking at yourself in a mirror.

We are looking towards a future in which people will mention artificial intelligence tools developed by Nigerians and designed to address our peculiar needs.

Imagine developing an AI solution that understands our environment, our culture and our everyday challenges. Such a product could be a significant advantage.

You also spoke about developing AI solutions that can communicate in Nigerian languages. How far have you gone in this regard?

One of the AI solutions we have deployed can hold conversations in Yoruba, Hausa, Hebrew and Pidgin. It is also humorous.

The important thing is that we are not merely talking about translating words from one language to another. We are exploring the ability of these tools to hold conversations in different languages.

That is one of the possibilities artificial intelligence offers us.

We need solutions that reflect our realities and speak to our people in languages they understand. There is enormous potential in developing products that respond to local needs rather than relying entirely on solutions created for other environments.

Learning AI and overcoming development challenges

How did you acquire the skills to develop these AI-powered products? Did you undergo formal training?

Funny enough, I acquired most of the skills through artificial intelligence itself.

I am self-trained. However, before the emergence of AI, I had already worked as an IT project manager, managing IT projects.

That experience gave me exposure to technology and project management, although I was not the kind of technical person who wrote computer programmes or engaged extensively in programming.

I have always been a problem-solving person.

When the right tools became available through AI, developing products became easier for me. I could explore ideas, refine them and use the technology to move from identifying a problem to developing a possible solution.

That is why I believe young people should not assume they must know everything before they begin. A willingness to learn, experiment and solve problems can open up opportunities.

What challenges should aspiring AI developers prepare for, particularly those who are just starting out?

One of the challenges I wanted the participants to understand is the temptation to embark on several projects simultaneously.

When you enter the world of AI, you may suddenly have so many ideas that you want to pursue all of them at once. However, that can drain your budget and scatter your attention.

You need to learn how to prioritise and concentrate on projects that are viable.

Secondly, you may have to pay for AI tokens or subscriptions. The free versions of many AI platforms have limitations, so you may need to spend money to access certain features or carry out more demanding tasks.

You might find yourself paying $5 here, $10 there or even more, depending on the platform and the work you are doing.

However, if you are using these tools productively, the investment may be relatively small compared with the value you can generate.

Another challenge is discovering that someone else has developed a product similar to the one you have spent considerable time creating.

It has happened to me twice recently. You could spend time developing a product, only to see an advertisement on Facebook announcing that one of the major technology companies has launched something similar.

That can be discouraging, but it does not mean your effort has been wasted.

You have to think deeply about your product and identify what makes it different. Its uniqueness must give people a reason to choose it.

There is no rule that says only one product can solve a particular problem. Different products can address the same problem in different ways.

The fact that your product is locally developed could even be an advantage, particularly if it is tailored to the needs of your immediate environment.

Another challenge is that an idea may appear fantastic when you conceive it, but as you work on it and progress through the development process, you may begin to lose confidence in it.

Sometimes, when you are about 60 per cent into a project, you may start questioning whether it is as good as you initially imagined.

At such moments, you should seek feedback from other people. Allow them to examine the idea, offer suggestions and help you identify what can be improved.

That can restore your confidence and give the project a new lease of life. You must learn not to become discouraged simply because the journey is more difficult than you expected.

Turning AI products into viable businesses

Beyond developing a product, there is the challenge of marketing it. What advice would you give young people who want to turn their AI ideas into viable businesses?

Marketing is a masterclass on its own, but for the purpose of this conversation, I would advise them to identify one thing and stay the course.

Focus on one person, one problem or one organisation.

I have seen technically gifted programmers who are struggling financially. This is not to spite anybody, but it illustrates an important point: technical competence alone does not automatically translate into commercial success.

Sometimes, developers want to build a product that will solve a problem for several organisations at once. They try to create something that will work for everybody, and that can make it difficult to identify their target market and sell the product effectively.

For instance, if you are developing a solution for teachers, do not immediately try to address every teacher in your country or across the world.

Identify a viable institution, understand its needs and tailor your product to solve its problems first.

If you can successfully serve one organisation, you can use that experience to expand to others.

The problem with some technically oriented people is that they are very good at developing products but struggle with the business side of things.

My advantage is that I came into this from the business side before developing the technical skills.

My business acumen helps me understand not just how to build a product, but also the problem it is supposed to solve, who needs it and how it can create value.

Advice for young Nigerians exploring AI

What would you say to young Nigerians who believe that artificial intelligence is too technical for them to explore?

I would encourage them not to limit themselves by what they think they cannot do.

My own experience has shown me that you do not necessarily have to begin as an expert programmer before you can start exploring AI-powered product development.

I had experience in IT project management and problem-solving, but I was not a professional programmer. When the right tools became available, I began to explore what was possible, and that has opened up new opportunities.

The first step is to understand the technology, identify a problem and learn how to communicate that problem clearly.

You must also be willing to learn, experiment and improve your ideas as you go along.

However, you should not assume that AI will do everything for you. You still need to think critically, assess the quality of what the tools produce and ensure that your product genuinely addresses the problem you have identified.

Artificial intelligence is an opportunity, but you must be prepared to work, learn and think differently to benefit from it.

Finally, what future do you envisage for artificial intelligence development in Nigeria?

I envisage a future in which Nigerians will develop more AI-powered products that address our local needs and compete in the wider market.

We should not remain satisfied with simply mentioning the names of foreign platforms whenever artificial intelligence is discussed.

We need to begin asking ourselves what we can build, what problems we can solve and what products we can offer to others.

There are opportunities in our communities, organisations, professions and everyday experiences. The challenge is to identify those opportunities and apply the available technology to them.

If young Nigerians can develop the right mindset, focus on solving meaningful problems and understand the business side of innovation, they can create products that improve lives, generate income and contribute to economic development.

The future should not be limited to our ability to use other people's tools. We should also be thinking about the tools we can create ourselves.