The Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, has described the continual updating of both students’ and lecturers’ knowledge of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its transformative role in higher education as pivotal.
She remarked on the Workshop on AI, organised by the Centre for Digital Humanities, University of Lagos, in collaboration with the International Association for Innovation in Educational Assessment (IAIIEA), with the theme: ‘Elevating Teaching and Academic Research: A Workshop on Modern Tools, Technology and Collaborative Strategies’ that took place on the campus.
Ogunsola, who lauded the collaboration, said the institution has been mindful of preparing for the future, the students and the faculty with the aid of technology.
“As we stand at the threshold of the fourth industrial revolution, we find ourselves uniquely positioned to bridge the wisdom of traditional scholarship with the boundless possibilities of artificial intelligence.
The theme of this workshop captures more than aspiration as it embodies our institutional commitment to remaining at the vanguard of educational innovation while preserving the fundamental values that make education transformative.
“Artificial Intelligence is not simply another technological tool to be adopted; it represents a paradigm shift that challenges us to reimagine the very essence of teaching and learning. We are witnessing the emergence of AI systems that can assist in research, engage in sophisticated dialogue, generate creative content, analyze vast datasets in seconds, and even contribute to scientific discovery.
In our classrooms, AI offers unprecedented opportunities for personalized learning, adaptive assessment, and real-time feedback.
“While we are committed to teaching our students not to fear AI, but to approach it with informed confidence, we are also on the side that this technology revolution must be guided by ethical considerations and human judgment,” she said.
Ogunsola noted that the institution would establish centers of excellence for AI Research that address both local and global challenges; develop curricula that prepare students for Al-augmented careers across all disciplines; foster partnerships with industry, government, and international institutions to maximize the societal impact of our AI initiatives; maintain the highest ethical standards in AI research and applications and serve as a model for responsible AI adoption in higher education across Africa.
The Dean, Faculty of Arts, Prof. Akande Mudasiru Ilupeju, said the workshop will definitely add to the knowledge of those who have long aligned themselves with technology, as this digital era is not new.
He lauded the effort of the Director, Centre for Digital Humanities, Prof. Tunde Ope-Davies, for his continual effort to place the Faculty of Arts as one of the Facilities that align with technology.
Prof. Tunde Ope Davies, who was the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, said the workshop was aimed at promoting the power of technology to improve research and scholarship learning in the University.
