Experts urge early AI education to equip students for future jobs

…as StudyIn holds 2026 Global Study Conference

Education experts have called for the early integration of artificial intelligence (AI) education into Nigeria’s school curriculum to equip students with the skills needed to thrive in the evolving global job market.

The call was made at the 2026 Global Study Conference organised by StudyIn, where stakeholders highlighted the growing importance of AI literacy, digital competence and future-ready skills in preparing young Nigerians for emerging career opportunities worldwide.

Mary Agbu, the country director at StudyIn Nigeria, said that artificial intelligence is changing how people learn, work and build careers; hence, students need to understand what this means for their future. She emphasised that the theme of the conference, “Future Ready: Succeeding in an AI-Driven World,” seeks to explore beyond the dynamics of AI evolution in education to help young people understand their options, make informed decisions and prepare for what comes next.

“Artificial intelligence is changing how we learn, work and build careers, and students need to understand what this means for their future,” she said.

Besides, she said that the evolution of AI has become a catalyst in the world of education, requiring students to have a deep understanding of its basic concepts and applications; hence the reason the theme of the 2026 Global Study Conference is timely.

“Understanding AI is more comprehensive than just operational skills; it is a deeper and more critical understanding.

“The growth of AI skills for students can be done by integrating them with the teaching curriculum, and establishing them as skills that students must master to be future-ready for global jobs,” she noted.

Lola Olukuewu, a chief artificial intelligence officer, in her keynote address, said Africans, especially Nigerian students, ought to be equipped to be future-ready in the face of AI evolution.

“AI has come to stay; we’ve seen it happen before, through the advent of the Internet. We’re having a repeat of the Y2K advent, with AI.

“The educational system is being revamped, and we need to let our learners know how to be future-ready so that the changes in the world and careers don’t meet them unprepared,” she said.

Olukuewu emphasised that Nigeria must begin early to introduce artificial intelligence in the curriculum to avoid being reactive to global developments.

“As it is now, we’re being reactive because most of the educational systems globally are changing very fast. In fact, China recently revamped thousands of its courses and expunged them from its curricula because it has become obsolete.

“We have to begin to catch our students by exposing them to AI, and help them to reposition themselves in such a way they are future-ready for the realities they are going to meet,” she said.

Adiba Ofungbu, the chief of staff at StudyIn, said the organisation has been helping students with their foreign education admission quests, and have discovered that many students are not clear on the opportunities available in such schools, especially in the AI era.

“Some of the students are not aware of the opportunities out there; hence, that’s part of the gap we are here to bridge to make sure that students are fully informed, so they can make the right decisions,” she said.

Moreover, Ofungwu explained that some students are disconnected from the global realities and what the future holds for them in terms of their careers after graduation.

“Our mission is to make sure that the transition is as smooth as possible; hence, we chose the theme for the conference: the global landscape is different now, especially with the advent of AI.

“We want to make sure that we give the Nigerian child the best chance of success by starting early to prepare them, and make sure they can excel in the global future job market,” she said.

Martha Okafor, an educationist, emphasised that education should aim to move a student from the place of immaturity to activity, transforming that person from within.

David Ogebe, a tech expert, described AI as a leveler and a multiplier, which takes someone with an average or high IQ and brings them to the same level of conversation and reasoning.

However, he decried the fact that Nigeria’s education system does not necessarily prepare students for the industry; hence, he advocates that the curriculum should be tailored to align with industry needs.

As part of activities to upskill students, StudyIn introduced ‘Future Ready Essay Competition’ for students in Year 11 and Year 12.

Okoye Sienu, a student of Lagoon School, emerged the overall winner; Tamilore Macaulay, a student of Dowen College, was the first runner-up, while Soorefunmi Jane, from Lagoon School, secured the second runner-up position.