Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has proposed using artificial intelligence (AI) to address Nigeria’s education crisis, which has left over 20 million children out of school. Speaking at the Distance Learning Institute’s 50th-anniversary colloquium at the University of Lagos, Obasanjo highlighted AI’s potential to enhance education through open and distance learning.
Obasanjo, who has personal experience with distance education, emphasized that AI could help resolve issues like accommodation and transportation for students. Prof. Folashade Ogunsola, UNILAG Vice-Chancellor, echoed this sentiment, stressing the future of education lies in technology. She noted that distance learning is becoming increasingly crucial, especially as universities face challenges such as the “Japa Syndrome.”
Keynote speaker Prof. Ramesh Sharma from the University of Guyana underscored AI’s role in improving educational outcomes, predicting student success, and assisting in data analysis. UNILAG’s Prof. Risikat Dauda reiterated the commitment to responsible AI use in education. The event was chaired by Prof. Kabiru Isyaku of Khalifa Isyaku Rabiu University and attended by other notable figures in academia.
