Guest blog by Abel Aboh, Board Member, The Data Lab Scotland
Did you know that the iconic “Thin White Duke” persona of David Bowie was created by a Black woman? Her name was Ola Hudson, an extraordinary costume designer who worked with the Pointer Sisters, John Lennon, and David Bowie himself. Hudson’s creative genius shaped one of the most recognisable artistic identities in music history.
I didn’t know about Ola Hudson. I discovered her story on page 364 of Black History for Every Day of the Year by David, Yinka, and Kemi Olusoga – an incredible chronicle of Black excellence and human resilience. I’ve made it a personal journey this month to read a story from this book every day in October, as part of Black History Month.
Each page reminds me that innovation, creativity and courage are timeless, and that Black history is not a sidebar, but a central thread in the story of global progress. Black history is our history!
From history to innovation: The Data Lab’s vision
At The Data Lab Scotland, one of the innovation centres in Scotland, we don’t just celebrate data – we celebrate people. Diversity of thought, inclusion, community, culture and background powers the innovation that defines the future of artificial intelligence and data-driven transformation.
This year, The Data Lab was honoured with the Special Recognition Award at the Scottish Ethnic Minority Talent Festival Awards 2025, recognising our contribution to advancing diversity, innovation, and talent development in Scotland. It’s a meaningful reminder that supporting ethnic minority groups – in whatever shape or form – truly matters.
The partnerships reflect that belief. Through our work with DataKirk, we’re helping to build bridges into data and AI careers for people from ethnic minority and underrepresented communities across Scotland. Together, we’re creating pathways that make data education accessible and meaningful – because the future of data and artificial intelligence innovation must be inclusive and for the good of Scotland.
Empowering the next generation
Through the MSc Scholarship Programme, I’ve seen first-hand how opportunities in data can empower students from a range of backgrounds – building not just skills, but confidence and community.
The Data Lab’s work on addressing the AI skills gap – particularly through the development of the Data and AI Skills Framework – is a vital step towards a more inclusive and future-ready Scotland. It’s initiatives like this that help ensure technology works for everyone by creating clearer, more accessible pathways into data and AI careers.
A personal reflection
On a personal note, 2023 brought me a profound moment of joy: receiving a personal congratulatory message from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria following my appointment to the Board of The Data Lab Scotland. The news resonated widely across Nigeria’s national media spaces, a powerful reminder of how interconnected our stories are, and how my contribution in the boardroom here in Edinburgh, Scotland, can inspire many in Nigeria – this is how leadership in data and AI can inspire pride across borders.
That message was more than a congratulation; it was a signal – that what we do here in Scotland matters not just locally, but globally. It reaffirmed the importance of representation, the value of inclusive leadership, and the transformative power of collaboration and community.
Why “did you know?” matters
The question “Did You Know?” invites us to look deeper – to uncover stories hidden in plain sight, to invite others to join our community, to recognise contributions that history sometimes forgets, and to connect past struggles and challenges with present opportunities.
As we celebrate Black History Month, let’s not only honour the legends of yesterday like Ola Hudson, but also the data scientists and engineers, data management professionals, students, partners and innovators shaping tomorrow through platforms like The Data Lab.
Let me pause here to remember an icon and trailblazer – a scientist and activist, the Late Professor Emeritus Sir Geoff Palmer KT OBE. He inspired me greatly, and may his legacy live on for generations across Scotland and beyond!
Let’s keep asking questions, keep learning, and keep building a future where every voice counts and every story is heard.
Because every “Did You Know?” we share today might just spark the innovation, empathy, or courage that defines the next chapter of human progress.