Empowering Knowledge Leaders and Innovators with AI Instruction
In Lira, Uganda, the Triskelion Education and Skills Initiative (TESI), led by founder Emmanuel Angoda, is pioneering a transformative approach to community development by integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into hands-on and project-based workshops. TESI is cultivating knowledge leaders and equipping youth with the skills needed to drive innovation across Lira city and the continent of Africa.
AI workshops at TESI focus on practical, real-world applications. Participants learn foundational AI concepts, data literacy, and problem-solving techniques that can be immediately applied in local contexts. For example, youth engage in projects that use machine learning to create content that represents them.
Learning how AI can empowers them into public services that benefit communities and model solutions for civic traffic, waste management, and energy usage.
This digital approach helps emerging leaders not only understand technology but to apply it creatively for community benefit. The African youth of today will be able to manage, create, utilize and run complex systems with tech that recognizes the importance of culture and geography.
By fostering innovation, creativity, design thinking, TESI supports youth in envisioning “smart city” solutions that are tailored to local needs. In Lira, workshops have already inspired concepts for AI supported public health alerts, predictive agricultural support systems, and community safety dashboards.
These initiatives harness local insights and global technologies, ensuring that solutions are contextually relevant and community-driven. Africa having the youngest population of the world with that average age of 19. Using AI tools the data supports age dynamics. The average age (median age) for youth in Africa is vibrantly young, around 19 years old, making Africa the
world’s youngest continent, with roughly 70% of its population under 30.
AI also plays a critical role in expanding educational equality. TESI’s programs are designed to be inclusive, reaching students from diverse backgrounds. Through blended learning models, combining in-person mentorship with AI driven adaptive instruction, learners can progress at their own pace and with personalized support.
Sustainable community growth is another key outcome. TESI encourages projects that generate economic and educational opportunity. The ability of AI-assisted small business forecasting, digital marketplaces for local artisans, and data analytics for agricultural cooperatives. By equipping African young innovators with the skills to launch technology-enabled enterprises.
TESI helps ensure that Uganda’s youth can build resilient, future-ready economies.
Chancellor and Minister William Jackson captures this vision succinctly: “Africa stands at the threshold of becoming a global Superpower through strategic integration of AI and virtual reality. When our youth have access to world-class technology education, they not only solve local challenges they lead globally.
By embracing these tools, we can ensure that every community thrives in a future defined by innovation and equality.”
Through AI workshops that will be provided in 2026 and leadership development, TESI is contributing to a future where African youth learn, grow, innovate, and create sustainable communities that are both equitable and technologically empowered.
Written by Chancellor, Minister and Educator William Jackson, is a TESI Instructor and Co-founder of L&D Nexus and Speaker and Contributor L&D Africa