AI Adoption Essential for University Staff, Says UNILAG DVC

By Happiness Ilom and Divine Wariboko

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development Services) of University of Lagos (UNILAG), Professor Folusho Lesi, has urged academic and non-teaching staff of UNILAG to embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI), warning that those who fail to adapt, risk becoming irrelevant in the rapidly evolving education sector.

Lesi noted this on Wednesday, July 15, during the Faculty of Education’s Annual Lecture held at the Jelili Omotola Hall, UNILAG.

Representing the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Folashade Ogunsola, he delivered a lecture titled “Bridging Educational Inequalities Through Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation in Resource-Constrained Contexts.”

Addressing staff and students, Lesi said that AI is not a threat to jobs but a tool that educators must learn to use effectively.

“AI is here, and it’s here to stay,” he said.

“It will not take the jobs of lecturers and non-teaching staff.

“Any staff who does not adopt AI will quickly be left behind.”

He noted that students are already making extensive use of AI technologies and urged lecturers to stay ahead by understanding how the tools work and guiding students on their ethical use.

“These students we are teaching are already using it,” he said.

“If you do not know how they are using it and guide them, especially on the ethics of its usage, we will quickly become irrelevant.”

Lesi mentioned the university’s efforts to promote AI-driven innovation through the establishment of a University Innovation Pod (AI UNIPOD).

According to him, the UNILAG Vice-Chancellor (VC) expects faculties and students to actively participate in the institution’s innovation hubs and apply AI to address challenges affecting national development.

He encouraged academics to take the lead in researching innovative ways to integrate AI into teaching, learning and assessment.

The Managing Director of Resource Security and Trust Limited Nigeria, Dr. Jibril Ibrahim urged educators and the public to embrace technology responsibly without becoming overly dependent on it.

“Technology by itself cannot solve educational inequalities,” he said.

“It creates possibilities, but people create progress.”

The outgoing Dean of the Faculty of Education, Prof. Adebayo Oladipo, reflected on the growth of the faculty’s annual lecture series, describing it as an initiative “born of a simple but stubborn conviction.”

He said the programme had evolved from a modest faculty gathering into one of the university’s foremost intellectual events, providing a platform for discussions on curriculum reform, teacher quality, educational financing and equity.

Oladipo expressed appreciation to members of staff, administrators, students and supporters who had contributed to the success of the lecture series over the years. He also encouraged students and colleagues to remain committed to building a stronger educational environment for future generations.