Sanwo-Olu, UNILAG VC urge AI integration in education

Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, have called for reforms in higher education to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) and equip students with skills needed in the modern workforce.

They made the call on Tuesday at the opening of the university’s 2026 International Week, themed “Re-imagining pedagogy and teaching for higher education in the 21st century”.

Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Tolani Sule, urged universities to move away from conventional teaching methods based on rote memorisation and promote critical thinking, problem-solving and adaptability.

“The university of today must not merely produce graduates who seek opportunities; it must also produce graduates capable of creating them,” Sanwo-Olu stated.

He said the shift required research-driven learning, collaboration across disciplines and stronger partnerships among universities, government and industry.

While acknowledging that digital platforms could widen access to education, the governor said technology should complement, rather than replace, human judgement, ethical values and personal engagement. He also called for equitable access to digital tools so that students’ financial backgrounds would not limit their educational opportunities.

Sanwo-Olu urged universities to adopt global best practices while building their capacity to develop local solutions instead of relying solely on foreign knowledge.

Addressing students, he said: “Your degree provides a foundation. Your ability to adapt, think independently, and apply knowledge will help determine your contribution to the world.”

Earlier, Ogunsola called for urgent changes to teaching methods across African universities, arguing that traditional lectures focused on recalling facts could no longer adequately prepare students for a technology-driven global economy.

She said the rise of AI required universities to reconsider how they teach, assess and certify learning.

Reflecting on UNILAG’s focus on global connectivity in 2019, inclusive digital transformation in 2024 and equitable AI data frameworks in 2025, the vice-chancellor said AI had become central to classroom learning.

“Artificial intelligence has moved from the periphery of our discussions into the centre of our classrooms,” she said. “Our students arrive with tools that can summarise, calculate, translate, and draft essays in seconds. The question is no longer whether these tools exist, but what it means to teach, assess, and certify learning in their presence.”

Ogunsola highlighted the gap between conventional classroom methods and the skills sought by leading employers, including AI literacy, analytical thinking, emotional intelligence and digital collaboration.

“How do you teach these? It is certainly not through conventional lectures,” she said. “We are increasingly being judged on learning outcomes, which are no longer about the ability to recall facts and figures.”

While advocating global standards, she cautioned against adopting Western educational models without considering local socio-economic conditions and structural constraints.

In his remarks, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, highlighted the importance of transnational education (TNE), particularly the partnership between UNILAG and the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom.

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He described the collaboration as a strategic effort to strengthen Nigeria’s position in the global knowledge economy.

Alausa, represented by a director in the Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs Elizabeth Ogundipe, said the TNE model could help retain local talent while providing students with access to international-standard education.

He said the Federal Government valued partnerships that promote quality, innovation and institutional development.

The minister added that the UNILAG-Birmingham partnership could reduce the financial and logistical challenges associated with studying abroad by allowing Nigerian students to obtain internationally recognised qualifications at home.

However, he stressed that the success of transnational education depended on quality, relevance, affordability and sustainability. He also said such partnerships must comply with regulatory standards to protect students’ interests.

Alausa noted that universities could not achieve their full potential in isolation, identifying international collaboration, digital transformation and cross-border research as key elements of modern higher education.

Delivering the keynote address, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Prof. Nana Aba Amfo, said African universities must respond to the demands of 21st-century teaching, learning, research and innovation.

She stressed the need for inclusive teaching methods to ensure that no student was left behind.

The opening event also featured technical sessions and panel discussions involving local and international scholars and industry experts, focusing on the future of higher education in Africa.