AI to the Rescue: "Kemi" Chatbot Fights Online GBV for Naija Women!

🇳🇬 Pidgin Version

<p class="my-6 leading-relaxed text-foreground">Wahala for internet don too much, especially for our women and girls facing all sorts of online abuse. But guess what? A Nigerian youth-led NGO, Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative (BBYDI), just dropped something major to tackle this issue head-on: <strong>"Kemi," an AI-powered WhatsApp chatbot</strong>! This no be just another app, o. Kemi is designed to be a lifesaver for survivors of technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV), giving them a safe and confidential space to get help.</p><p class="my-6 leading-relaxed text-foreground">Unveiled in Abuja with support from the French Ministry, the launch event titled "Championing Digital Safety for Women and Girls Across West and Central Africa" really hit home the urgent need for tools like Kemi. Nurah Jimoh-Sanni, BBYDI's executive director, put it simply: "Too many survivors suffer in silence... Kemi is different. It listens without judgment, supports without delay, and was co-created by survivors themselves." Imagine that – a tool built by those who truly understand the pain!</p><p class="my-6 leading-relaxed text-foreground">This move comes after a shocking BBYDI survey across several West African countries revealed that a whopping 92% of respondents, mostly women, have faced TFGBV like cyberbullying and non-consensual image sharing. Even more disheartening, less than half reported these incidents due to stigma and mistrust. Olasupo Abideen, BBYDI's global director and the brain behind Kemi, emphasized that the chatbot's design was shaped by feedback from 41 workshops in the region, ensuring it's not just "high-tech, but high-trust."</p><p class="my-6 leading-relaxed text-foreground">Kemi operates in various local languages, guiding users through discreet conversations, offering self-help tips, and connecting them to support resources, all while ensuring confidentiality. Beyond the chatbot, BBYDI also launched crucial resources like reports on TFGBV and a "HerSafeSpace: Digital Safety Manual." And for those wondering how to get men involved, they even kicked off a Male Allyship Programme, bringing prominent figures on board to advocate for safer digital spaces. This is more than just a chatbot launch; as Abideen rightly said, "We are here to launch a movement – one where survivors are seen, heard and supported, and where technology becomes a tool for justice, not harm." Naija go better!</p>