2022 Winners: LearnHausa Digital Preserves Cultural Heritage

An interactive digital platform teaching Hausa language and culture to young people and diaspora communities worldwide.

The Team

Team LearnHausa consists of 4 talented young women from Ahmadu Bello Academy Bauchi:

• Sadiya Muhammad Lawal
• Rukayyah Abubakar Tanko
• Khadija Umar Dikko
• Aisha Danladi Sani

The Challenge

The Hausa language, spoken by over 70 million people, is at risk of declining among younger generations, especially those in the diaspora and urban areas. Many second and third-generation Hausa children abroad cannot communicate with their grandparents, and cultural traditions are being lost as families become disconnected from their roots. The team experienced this firsthand when their cousins visiting from abroad couldn't speak or understand Hausa.

The Solution

LearnHausa Digital offers gamified language lessons with audio pronunciations by native speakers, cultural stories and proverbs that teach both language and heritage, virtual tours of historical sites in Northern Nigeria, and a community feature connecting learners with native speakers for practice. The platform adapts to each user's level, from complete beginners to those looking to improve their fluency, and includes content specifically designed for children, teenagers, and adults. Users can earn badges and certificates as they progress.

Prizes Won

• $60,000 Clarkson University undergraduate scholarship for each team member ($240,000 total)
• This was the first team to receive international university scholarships through STEMify Africa
• Gold medals for each team member
• Set the precedent for future winners
• Featured in international cultural preservation publications

Impact

• Over 10,000 active users across 15 countries
• Adopted by schools in the UK and USA with Hausa diaspora populations
• Featured in international media including Voice of America Hausa Service
• Partnerships with cultural organizations for content development
• Created a template for other African language preservation efforts

Where Are They Now?

All team members have graduated from Clarkson University and are now working in technology companies in the United States and Nigeria. They continue to develop LearnHausa as a side project and have built a team of volunteers who create new content. The team founders now serve as mentors for new STEMify Africa participants, giving back to the program that launched their careers. Sadiya is working as a software engineer at a major tech company, while Rukayyah has started a cultural technology nonprofit.