UI Computer Scientist Launches “KoEDE” App to Promote Yoruba

By 𝔸bdulrazak Tomiwa

Dr. Ronke Sakpere, a University of Ibadan computer scientist, has launched “KoEDE,” a mobile app designed to teach children Yoruba. The app uses gamification to combat the declining use of indigenous languages in urban Nigerian households.

The project began in 2022 during Dr. Sakpere’s fellowship at MIT. After noticing many children lacked fluency in their mother tongues, she created a digital intervention to make African language learning accessible and fun.

The app features interactive puzzles and reward systems across various difficulty levels. Dr. Sakpere collaborated with UI’s Yoruba Centre to ensure the curriculum, audio guides, and visual illustrations met high linguistic standards.

Initial funding constraints were resolved in 2024 through a grant from the German foundation, Klaus Tschira Stiftung. This support enabled the team to finalize the technical build and prepare for a February 23 public launch.

While starting with Yoruba, the developer plans to expand into Igbo, Hausa, and other African languages. Future updates will include AI-driven features to provide a more personalized and real-time learning experience for users.

Confirming the motivation behind the app, Dr. Sakpere stated, “After reflection, I realised that many children back home do not speak their native languages fluently. That was when I decided to design a technology intervention to help African children learn their native languages.”