The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, has lamented Africa’s lag in adopting artificial Intelligence (AI) and called for urgent measures to accelerate its integration across the continent.
Speaking at a Workshop on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Referencing Managers organised by the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Physical Sciences last Wednesday (January 8, 2025), Prof. Egbewole noted that while the global conversation has progressed to artificial general intelligence (AGI) and artificial super intelligence (ASI), Africa remains focused on the basics of AI.
The Vice Chancellor opined that the workshop was aimed at exploring effective and ethical ways to integrate AI into academic and professional work without compromising originality or engaging in plagiarism.
Prof. Egbewole expressed the hope that the workshop would enlighten participants on how to utilise AI technology responsibly and productively, saying, “Instead of using the technology in a way that portrays us as ingenious or fake, I believe this workshop will open our eyes to better ways of harnessing its potential”.
The Vice Chancellor also applauded the Department for the integration of global perspectives through virtual participation by attendees from outside Nigeria. He said, “We didn’t limit ourselves to the geographical boundaries of Nigeria; we leveraged technology to involve participants globally, which means we are actually drawing knowledge from a broader spectrum”.
Prof. Egbewole encouraged participants to seize the opportunity offered by the workshop, saying that they ought to have paid for the programme because of how essential the programme will be to their academic and individual career going forward.
In a conversation with UNILORIN Bulletin, the Dean of the Faculty of Physical Sciences, Prof. Baba Alafara, stated that the workshop was designed to benefit not only the University of Ilorin community but also stakeholders from industries and participants worldwide.
Prof. Alafara explained that the beneficiaries included students, staff, industrialists, and global participants, highlighting the Department’s view of the workshop as a community service initiative contributing to the global community.
While acknowledging Africa’s lag in adopting AI, he expressed optimism about the workshop’s potential to reshape perspectives on integrating AI into teaching and research activities.
Reflecting on the strides made by the Faculty under his leadership, Prof. Alafara noted that the Faculty of Physical Sciences, recognised as the University of Ilorin’s best Faculty for 2024, is guided by an ambitious vision known as “1:1:10:500”.
He said the vision involves being the leading Faculty at the University of Ilorin, the top Faculty in the field of Physical Sciences in Nigeria, among the top 10 Faculties of Physical Sciences nationally, and among the top 500 Faculties of Physical Sciences globally.
The Dean disclosed that the Faculty developed this vision during its December 2023 retreat, which focused on integrating the three core pillars of any University, that is, teaching, research, and community service, into all its activities. Prof. Alafara attributed the Faculty’s recognition to its consistent alignment with these principles and reaffirmed its commitment to retaining the honour.
