Prof. Abiodun Aibinu, a renowned Artificial Intelligence (AI) expert, has urged Nigerian universities to allow the use of AI to enhance the quality of research conducted by post-graduate students.
Aibinu made the call during his keynote address at the 65th meeting of the Committee of Provosts and Deans of Postgraduate Colleges and Schools in Nigerian Universities (CPDPGCS) on Tuesday in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
The 65th meeting of CPDPGCS was scheduled from April 27-30 at the Federal University of Lafia (FULafia), Nasarawa State capital.
He emphasised that AI has come to stay and that institutions of learning cannot prevent students in this technology age from leveraging it to improve the quality of their research work.
He further explained that students from Nigerian universities could not compete favorably with their counterparts from developed nations who have gone far technologically without leveraging AI.
Prof. Aibinu, however, explained that the universities should set up guidelines for a responsible and effective integration of AI into post-graduate programme.
He also called on university lecturers to leverage AI as well to remain relevant and guard against job loss.
“AI has come to stay, so the only thing we will do is to develop a framework to protect the rights, privacy, and dignity of researchers,” he added.
Also, Prof. Shehu Abdul-Rahman, Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the Federal University of Lafia (FULafia), said that the adoption of AI in research cannot be overemphasized because it represents the frontline for innovation and invention.
He added that AI enhances efficiency, clarity, sustainability, productivity, and error-free research work, hence, the necessity for its application in all human endeavors.
Abdul-Rahman, however, said infrastructural deficit and lack of ethical guidelines, among others, could hamper its smooth adoption and called for more investment to tackle the challenges.
On his part, Prof. Vearumun Tarhule, Chairman of CPDPGCS, welcomed delegates from various universities across the country to the meeting aimed at fashioning a modality to utilize AI in post-graduate research.
He urged the members of the association to take the presentations by keynote speakers and paper presenters seriously to enable them to assist their institutions in the adoption of AI to enhance the quality of research.
He also appreciated the Vice Chancellor of FULafia for agreeing to host the meeting despite the short notice.
Tarhule therefore, expressed optimism that the outcome of the meeting would greatly help toward improving the standard of university education in the country.
The, the Executive Secretary of Nigeria University Commission (NUC), Prof. Abdullahi Rubadu, while speaking at the occasion, said that AI is now a present reality and its usage in all sectors, including education, is inevitable.
The NUC boss, represented by Mr. A.shafa Ladan, Director of Skills Development and Entrepreneurship, said that the commission had recently constituted a committee to work out the modality for the inclusion of AI in the curriculum of universities.
The theme for the meeting is, ‘Artificial Intelligence and Post-graduate Research in Nigerian Universities’. (www.krestnews.com).