The National Commission for UNESCO (NATCOM-UNESCO) and key education stakeholders have called for the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into Nigeria’s education system.
Secretary-General of NATCOM-UNESCO, Dr Lateef Olagunju, made the call at the opening of a three-day national conference in Abuja on Tuesday.
The conference, themed “Harnessing AI Techniques for Efficient Information Management and Retrieval,” aims to explore practical, ethical, and sustainable approaches to integrating AI into national development, with a focus on education.
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Olagunju emphasised the need to embrace AI to stay aligned with global trends, noting that AI could enhance information management across sectors such as digital libraries, healthcare, national security, and enterprise systems.
While highlighting AI’s benefits, he also stressed the need for ethical frameworks to prevent misuse, in line with UNESCO’s global guidelines.
Obiajunu Anigboju , Director, Education Planning, Research and Development at the Federal Ministry of Education, represented by Mrs Khadijah Liman, said AI offered transformative tools to meet modern demands.
She noted that machine learning could address the growing complexity of information systems better than traditional methods.
Dr Yinka Oyerinde, Associate Professor of Information Systems and AI at the University of Jos, said AI was not a threat to teachers but a tool to empower them.
He explained that AI-driven platforms could help educators generate lesson materials faster, thereby improving both teaching efficiency and student outcomes.
AI expert Dr Patrick Adeneye also addressed concerns about AI making students lazy.
He argued that AI fostered smarter learning by providing quick access to vast resources, thus increasing both depth and efficiency.
He acknowledged challenges in implementation, especially in rural areas, but said the conference would help shape concrete action through capacity-building and teacher engagement.(NAN)
