Afe Babalola Appointed Pioneer Chairman of NAAIP Board of Trustees
Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, founder and Chancellor of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), has been appointed the inaugural Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the National Association of Artificial Intelligence Practitioners (NAAIP).
Chris Oyeoku Okafor 
Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, the founder and Chancellor of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), has been appointed the inaugural Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the National Association of Artificial Intelligence Practitioners (NAAIP). This prestigious appointment was officially communicated in a letter dated June 13, delivered by a team led by NAAIP President and former Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede.
Other distinguished members of the NAAIP BOT include Emeritus Prof. Peter Okebukola, Prof. Rukayat Ahmed Rufai, Prof. Suleiman Ambali, Prof. Anayo Ugochukwu, and Chief Chucks Igwillo, SAN. The appointment of Babalola, an advocate for Artificial Intelligence, recognizes his transformative contributions to tertiary education in Nigeria and his interest in AI.
Prof. Ogunbodede highlighted Babalola's revolutionary impact on tertiary education and his dedication to progressive developments in AI. Babalola's tenure as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the University of Lagos Council was marked by significant achievements, including eradicating campus cultism, ensuring a stable academic calendar, and improving university accountability. His innovative introduction of the Post-UTME reshaped university admissions, addressing academic deficiencies among students.
Babalola's influence extends to his university, ABUAD, which has received numerous accolades, including being ranked the top university in Nigeria by the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings for three consecutive years. His dedication to quality education and his advocacy for AI have earned him respect and recognition both nationally and internationally.
SEE MORE: ABUAD Named Among World-Leading Universities in THE Impact Rankings
In his acceptance speech, Babalola praised Prof. Okebukola, the mastermind behind NAAIP, and expressed gratitude for his appointment and the team's efforts in personally delivering the appointment letter. He emphasized the importance of hard work, service, and leveraging Nigeria's natural and intellectual resources for national development.
Founded on April 29, 2024, during a graduation ceremony for 931 participants trained in AI applications in education, NAAIP aims to advance AI practices in Nigeria. The association seeks to enhance AI competence, promote ethical practices, and support AI-driven innovations in teaching, research, and community engagement.
Babalola's leadership is expected to guide NAAIP towards achieving its goals, fostering a culture of excellence and ethical AI practice in Nigeria.
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