The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, has reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that all students of the University become technologically savvy and maximise the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in their academic and professional pursuits.
Prof. Egbewole made this declaration last Wednesday (February 5, 2025) at a reception held in honour of the CEO of TechMindset, Kenya, Prof. Joan Mbesya, who visited the University of Ilorin to engage in an interactive session with selected students on how to harness the benefits of AI effectively.
The Vice Chancellor, who acknowledged the global shift from AI to Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI), explained the importance of equipping students with AI knowledge despite the evolving technological landscape. He said while it may be challenging to get all students on board, efforts are being made to involve as many of them as possible in the learning process.
Prof. Egbewole stated that observations from the first batch of students that participated in the training indicated that those from disciplines outside Computer Science, Engineering, and Computer Engineering showed greater enthusiasm for AI education, pointing out that this explained the interdisciplinary relevance of AI across various fields.
The Vice Chancellor, however, expressed hope that the University would not stop at the current level but would continue to find innovative ways to engage more students in AI education. He added that plans are underway to explore more avenues to ensure that AI training becomes an integral part of the learning experience.
Prof. Egbewole also appreciated the remarkable work done by Prof. Mbesya in AI training and capacity-building initiatives at the University, saying, “Her passion for the field has been evident in previous visits to the University, and her continued support is recognised as instrumental to empowering students with AI knowledge”.
In her remarks, Prof. Joan Mbesya commended the students for their enthusiasm and engagement in the AI training, noting that many had already begun developing innovative solutions. According to her, 25 groups presented 25 different solutions to 25 problems, which demonstrated their eagerness to apply AI knowledge in practical ways.
The CEO of TechMindset also applauded the students’ passion for leveraging AI to drive Africa’s progress and expressed appreciation for the support received from the University leadership. She reiterated the importance of exposure and training in enabling students to integrate AI effectively into their respective fields.
Speaking earlier, the Director of COMSIT, Prof. Rasheed Jimoh, eulogised the reputation of the University of Ilorin as a pacesetter in technology adoption. He noted that the University had already implemented AI-related initiatives over a year ago, ahead of evaluation metrics recently introduced by regulatory bodies to assess AI adoption, motivation, and awareness programmes in universities.
Prof. Jimoh opined that the proactive approach of the University ensures that students are equipped with essential AI skills, positioning them for future opportunities in an increasingly digital world.
Other Principal Officers that joined the Vice Chancellor at the reception were the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Moji Taibat Bakare-Odunola; the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research Technology and Innovation), Prof. Muhtar Adeiza Etudaiye; the Registrar, Mr Mansur Alfanla; and the University Librarian, Prof. Kamaldeen Tunde Omopupa.
Also in attendance were the Director of the Centre for International Education (CIE), Prof Lateef Onireti Ibraheem; and the Director of the Centre for Research Development and In-House Training (CREDIT), Prof. Abdulkarim Oloyede, among others.
