To promote Artificial Intelligence in the country, a total number of 931 staff of Nigerian Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education have successfully graduated from a rigorous 13-week training program focused on Artificial Intelligence. This training will enhance their ability to incorporate AI into their teaching, research, and community outreach efforts. The National Universities Commission (NUC), National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), and the West Africa Office of the Association of African Universities (AAU) collaborated to host the training program supported by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund. It was overseen by the NUC Strategy Advisory Committee (STRADVCOM) in the West Africa Office of the Association of African Universities.
After the graduation ceremony concluded, Professor Emeritus Peter Okebukola spoke to reporters about the Virtual Institute for Capacity Building in Higher Education (VICBHE), which he leads. He highlighted the 13-week training program focused on essential AI concepts and included 11 hands-on sessions. He mentioned that participants were now equipped to actively utilize AI resources in order to enhance their educational, research, and community involvement endeavours. They are now capable of conducting machine learning exercises and, most significantly, applying AI tools for ensuring quality control and accreditation. Okebukola also noted that all participants gained insight into ethical concerns related to the implementation of AI.
All these policies will be combined to create AI policies.
He expressed his joy at the fact that all the participants worked on developing AI policies for their institutions as part of the end-of-course project. He said all these policies will be combined to create AI policies specifically tailored for higher education institutions in the countries involved. With guidance from the AAU West Africa Office, he said a draft will be developed for the entire Africa region to be reviewed by Professor Olusola Oyewole, the Secretary General of AAU. He concluded the hands-on sessions by providing training on deepfake Technology to the participants. Among those attending the training were vice chancellors, Polytechnic rectors, College of Education provosts, and deputy vice chancellors.
Others include directors of Academic Planning, directors of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Deans of Faculty, heads of Department, professors, chief lecturers and senior management staff of higher education institutions in Nigeria. Professor Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa’i, a former Minister of Education, who presided over the event as chairman, Sir John Daniel, a former Assistant Director General for Education at UNESCO and former vice chancellor of the Open University of the UK, served as the keynote speaker both individuals commended the training program.
156 graduates received a distinction along with a certificate.
The graduates were encouraged to embrace a forward-thinking mindset in order to navigate a rapidly evolving world, heavily influenced by Artificial Intelligence. Professor Rufa’i emphasized the vital role of training for the effective adoption of the NUC Core Curriculum and Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS), established by Prof. Abubakar Adamu Rasheed and currently implemented across Nigerian universities. Professor Ngozi Odu, the Deputy Governor of Rivers State, was honoured as the special guest at the event. Notable figures such as Chris Maiyaki, Acting Executive Secretary of NUC, and Professor Olufemi Peters, vice chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria, sent their well wishes.
Okebukola revealed that out of all the participants, 156 received a distinction along with a certificate, 457 achieved a distinction, 74 attained a credit, 131 were awarded a merit, and 113 passed the performance evaluation. In addition, 290 participants achieved recognition for their work in the final project, with 21 participants also being granted special awards. One notable recipient was Professor Omolara Oluwasola Oluwaniyi from the University of Ilorin, who received the prestigious Malam Adamu Adamu prize for being the top graduating participant. The recipient was awarded both the Professor Abubakar Adamu Rasheed Prize for outstanding achievement within the Nigerian university system, as well as the Professor Ngozi Odu Prize for overall best female participant.
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Professor Mohammed Tanko, Vice-Chancellor of Mewar University, was awarded the prestigious Arc Sonny Echono Prize for his outstanding leadership in tertiary education. Additionally, Dr. Florence Kakwera from the National Council for Higher Education in Malawi received the Professor Olusola Oyewole Prize, while Dr. Bridget Audu from the National Universities Commission was honored with the Christopher J. Award. Winners of various awards include Maiyaki Prize recipient, Professor Ibiyinka Fuwape from Michael and Cecilia Ibru University, Professor Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa’i Prize winner Christie Dasaro from ECWA International College Of Technology in Jos, Professor Akan WILLIAMS from Covenant University for Best former Vice-Chancellor, and Professor Basirat Oladipupo-Folarin from Lagos State University of Science and Technology for Best serving Deputy Vice-Chancellor.