Lola Adey, a Dallas-based artificial intelligence educator and founder of VibeCode Africa, has issued a strong warning that Africa could be left watching from the sidelines if urgent steps are not taken to build AI literacy across the continent.
Speaking during a recent knowledge tour across Lagos and Abuja, Adey stressed that artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping economies, workplaces, and governance systems worldwide, and Africa must not delay in preparing its people to participate meaningfully in this transformation. According to her, the danger is not just technological exclusion, but economic and social dependence on nations that control AI tools and systems.
Addressing students from the University of Lagos, Lagos State University, and several secondary schools, Adey highlighted the demographic reality that within the next 25 years, one in every four people on Earth will be African. She warned that without early exposure to AI education, the continent’s growing population could be trapped in a future powered by technologies they neither design nor control.
Her advocacy extended beyond academic institutions. At Foursquare Gospel Church, VGC, she engaged teenagers on the future of work, encouraging them to see AI as a tool for creativity and opportunity rather than fear. At the Citadel Global Community Church, she delivered a thought-provoking session on AI and national development ahead of Pastor Tunde Bakare’s State of the Nation address, drawing attention to how countries such as China and Singapore are making massive investments in AI education and innovation.
Adey also took her message to mainstream media, appearing on NEWS CENTRAL TV to discuss the changing workforce and the skills required to remain relevant in an AI-driven world. At the Bodex Social Media Hangout, she trained digital creators and entrepreneurs on how AI can enhance personal branding, content strategy, and business growth.
In Abuja, she participated as a panelist at the InnTech Summit 2025 held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, where she called on policymakers to prioritise national upskilling programmes and integrate AI literacy into education and workforce development policies. She emphasised that AI education should not be limited to technical experts but made accessible to professionals, creatives, students, and decision-makers.
Adey’s mission is deeply rooted in personal experience. Having worked with Fortune 500 companies such as Lockheed Martin and GM Financial, and trained professionals through institutions like PMI North Texas and the IEEE, she witnessed firsthand how AI tools can accelerate innovation. Her ability to build her first AI-powered product, PIPA, without writing code became the inspiration behind VibeCode Africa, a movement focused on making AI education practical, inclusive, and African-centred.
VibeCode Africa officially launched in Dallas in October 2025, drawing over 100 Africans and allies who collaborated to build AI-powered solutions, including a telehealth prototype inspired by healthcare challenges in rural Malawi. For Adey, the experience reinforced her belief that Africans possess immense talent but often lack access to structured guidance and exposure.
Her recent Nigeria tour marks the foundation of the next phase of the movement. VibeCode Africa is set to host major AI summits in Lagos and Abuja in February 2026, with support from the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development, and private sector partners.
Beyond the continent, Adey continues her global work as an AI literacy trainer for corporate teams and executives, helping organisations automate workflows, improve decision-making, and unlock new revenue opportunities. She describes her mission as twofold: ensuring Africans rise with the world, and equipping global leaders to adapt to the rapidly evolving technological landscape.
For Adey, the stakes are clear. If Africa delays, it risks becoming a consumer rather than a creator in the AI age. But with timely action, education, and collaboration, she believes the continent can position itself as a powerful contributor to the future of artificial intelligence.
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