By Henry Oladele
The Vice-Chancellor of University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, has urged Nigerian universities to develop ethical frameworks for Artificial Intelligence (AI) use in teaching and research rather than attempting to ban its use
Ogunsola said this Tuesday on “Opportunities, Risks and Ethical Use of Artificial Intelligence in Teaching and Research” at the Eighth Lagos State University (LASU) Research and Innovation Fair.
The fair, which was held at the Aderemi Makanjuola Lecture Theatre, LASU, Ojo, had the theme: “Accelerating National Development Through Artificial Intelligence-Driven Research and Innovation”.
Ogunsola said that AI had become an integral part of the society, making it necessary for universities to adapt rather than attempt to prevent its use.
“We cannot ban AI but we must teach minds to think,” Ogunsola said.
According to her, the increasing use of AI by students presents both opportunities and challenges for the education sector.
She said that universities must ensure that students would use AI as a tool to enhance learning rather than allow it to perform the intellectual work required of them.
Ogunsola said that AI could access knowledge, recall facts and execute processes faster.
She emphasised, however, that universities must continue to develop students’ abilities to reason, analyse and think critically.
“A mind that is not challenged cannot think. The struggle of working things out is what makes a mind think,” the vice-chancellor said.
She warned that excessive dependence on AI could undermine the fundamental purpose of education by allowing students to complete academic tasks without acquiring the required knowledge.
She said the development of AI had also raised concerns about privacy, intellectual property, academic integrity, regulation and accuracy.
According to her, universities must, therefore, establish clear guidelines that will encourage responsible AI use while protecting academic standards.
Ogunsola cited a study in which AI was used under teacher supervision to support English Language learning.
The vice-chancellor said that the intervention produced remarkable improvement among participating students.
She said the students achieved, within six weeks, what researchers estimated would require about two years of traditional instruction.
“The teachers were not replaced by technology; they were using technology to enhance learning,” she said.
She said that Nigeria’s high level of AI adoption had further demonstrated the need for the country’s education sector to develop appropriate ways of integrating the technology.
Ogunsola urged educators to rethink assessment methods, saying that widespread use of AI meant that lecturers could no longer assume that submitted assignments represented students’ independent thinking.
“For many of us, teachers, we might be assessing AI rather than the student’s brain,” she said.
She said the challenge before universities was to redefine human intelligence and identify the skills that technology could not replace.
According to her, education must continue to develop critical thinking, creativity, reasoning and other human capacities that cannot simply be delegated to AI.
She urged academics to embrace the technology responsibly and focus on preparing students for an increasingly AI-driven world.
The reports that the fair brought together researchers, innovators, academics, industry stakeholders and policymakers to showcase research and discuss solutions to national challenges.
(NAN)
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