Campus News

Image

How AI will facilitate and impact teaching – Yusuf

The National President of the Social Studies Educationists Association of Nigeria (SOSAN), Prof. Abdulraheem Yusuf, has said that Artificial Intelligence (AI) had permeated every facet of the nation’s economy, especially education.

Prof.Yusuf, who is the Director of the Institute of Education, University of Ilorin, stated this penultimate Thursday (August 14, 2025) in his address at the 41st National Conference of SOSAN, which held at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).

At the Conference, themed “Leveraging Artificial Intelligence for Transformative Social Studies in the 21st Century”, the SOSAN National President said, “AI will not only make social studies teaching more engaging but also more transformative in shaping our students to be critical thinkers, problem solvers and  responsible citizens in the ever increasing digital world.”

He said, “The outcome of this conference will help to empower our educators and prepare our students for the challenges of the 21st century”, he said.

Prof. Yusuf expressed appreciation to the UNN Vice Chancellor, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, for accepting to host  the conference.

The SOSAN National President also commended the Local Organising Committee (LOC), led by Prof. Okechukwu Nwaubani, for the commitment and dedication of the committee that made the Conference a huge success.

He further expressed gratitude to Prof. Geoffrey Nji, the Dean, Faculty of Education and Prof. Daniel Mezieobi, Head of Department, Social Science Education in UNN for their immense contributions to the success of the Conference.

Declaring the conference open, the Vice Chancellor of UNN, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, advised Nigerians to exercise caution in using Artificial Intelligence since it has its own merits and demerits.

Prof. Ortuanya, who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Prof, Romanus Ezeokonkwo, said that in as much as AI had numerous transformative applications to revolutionise all sectors of any country’s economy, caution should be exercised as it also had its own adverse effects when negatively applied.

According to him, “Al tools have the capacity to revolutionise every sector of the economy especially in the education sector but we should be careful in using AI as it also has its own negative effects.”

In a keynote address, the Dean of Student Affairs, UNN, Prof Christian Ezeibe, said, “AI, as a tool, if rightly understood and wisely applied, could transform the way we teach, learn and live.”

He said, “AI is reshaping every sector from medicine to manufacturing from finance to agriculture and reshaping education in profound ways.

“AI is relevant in social studies as it’s crucial to the development of civic values, cultural awareness, historic consciousness as critical thinking will remain relevant and transformative in an AI-driven world.”

The Conference was chaired by the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Fidelis Ede, while the immediate past Dean of the Faculty of Education, University of Ilorin, Prof Mudasiru Yusuf, presented a lead paper.

  • Tags :