Nigeria has taken a significant step in the global artificial intelligence (AI) revolution with the successful hosting of the 2025 AI Awareness Day in Higher Education, a national event aimed at promoting AI education, research, and policy development.
The National Coordinator of the event and former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Emeritus Peter Okebukola, described Nigeria’s growing role in AI as a major milestone.
Held on February 17, 2025, the virtual event was co-hosted by the Virtual Institute for Capacity Building in Higher Education (VICBHE), NUC, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Okebukola Science Foundation (OSF), and the Association of African Universities (AAU).
The event brought together 306 participants, including heads of regulatory agencies such as the NUC, NBTE, and NCCE, scholars from universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, as well as policymakers, educators, and AI practitioners. The goal was to explore AI’s potential in education, share best practices, and contribute to national policies for ethical AI deployment. Goodwill messages were also received from scholars across Africa and beyond.
The event focused on raising awareness of AI’s impact on higher education in Nigeria, assessing the country’s progress in AI education and research, recognizing achievements in AI within Nigerian universities, addressing opportunities and challenges in AI integration, and encouraging AI-driven innovations to tackle national educational challenges.
Activities included a symposium, the dissemination of a three-volume Handbook on AI and Quality Higher Education, the presentation of a situation report on AI in Nigerian higher education, and the launch of the AI in Higher Education in Africa Newsletter.
A major highlight was the presentation of awards to institutions and individuals making outstanding contributions to AI research, education, and policy. In the universities category, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, won the Best Institutional AI Policy in Higher Education Award, with Lagos State University, Ojo, and the Federal University of Technology, Minna, taking second and third places, respectively. Living Spring College of Technology and Innovation, Osogbo, emerged first in the polytechnics category.
For the Best AI Researcher in the universities category, Prof. Olatunji Sunday Olusanya of Adekunle Ajasin University took first place, followed by Dr. Salau Ayodeji of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, and Dr. Awotunde Joseph Bamidele of the University of Ilorin. In the polytechnics category, Mr. Mohammed Modiu of Yaba College of Technology won first place. In the colleges of education category, Mr. Salami Ayo of the Federal College of Education, Iwo, was the top winner.
Other award categories included the Best Programme in Artificial Intelligence, with Thomas Adewumi University’s B.Sc. Computer Science program securing first place, while Covenant University, Ota, and the University of Benin had programs that placed second. The Best AI Application for Enhancing Teaching and Learning in the universities category was awarded to Prof. Onyenwe Ikechukwu Ekene of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, while several scholars from different institutions tied for second place.
The event concluded with key resolutions, including expanding AI Awareness Day to all levels of the education system, developing a strategic plan to position Nigeria as a global AI leader, strengthening the implementation of the African Union Strategic Plan on AI, enhancing public-private partnerships, and investing in AI infrastructure.
Other resolutions included encouraging Nigerian universities to introduce AI and Machine Learning courses within the 30 percent institutional allowance in the CCMAS and ensuring the involvement of the National Association of Artificial Intelligence Practitioners (NAAIP) in AI policymaking and implementation.
With these commitments, Nigeria is positioning itself as a key player in AI education and innovation, ensuring that the country remains at the forefront of the digital transformation in higher education.
