AFUED Urges Academic Staff to Integrate Artificial Intelligence into Teaching Practices

Academic staff of Adeyemi Federal University of Education (AFUED), Ondo, have been advised to adopt Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in teaching and learning processes to enhance instructional delivery and improve global competitiveness.

The charge was given by the Acting Rector of Adeyemi College of Technology, Ondo, Dr. Adenegan Kehinde Emmanuel, during a training workshop held on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at the university.

Delivering a paper titled Bridging Skills Acquisition through Artificial Intelligence for Education, Social and Economic Transformation, Dr. Adenegan described AI as a transformative tool in modern education, stressing that it should be embraced rather than feared.

He noted that artificial intelligence is not designed to replace human effort but to augment academic productivity, urging lecturers to identify practical areas where AI can support teaching objectives and improve learning outcomes.

The Acting Rector also highlighted skills acquisition as a critical response to unemployment challenges, advising graduates and job seekers to prioritise training in AI and related digital competencies to remain relevant in a rapidly evolving labour market.

He identified key challenges to AI adoption in Nigeria, including data privacy concerns, knowledge gaps, and potential misuse, while calling for stronger regulatory frameworks and capacity-building initiatives.

Dr. Adenegan further advocated for the integration of AI into academic curricula, increased funding for digital infrastructure, and sustained training and retraining of lecturers to ensure effective implementation across institutions.

Also presenting a paper titled Academic Relationship with University Students, a former Director of the Directorate of Counselling and Human Development and Career Service Centre, AFUED, Mrs. Catherine Olubukunola Olotu, emphasized the need to strengthen lecturer-student relationships through innovative and collaborative learning models.

She distinguished between traditional and transformational approaches to education, urging academics to move away from rigid teaching methods toward more interactive and student-centred practices.

Mrs. Olotu further called for the development of a new academic culture in Nigerian tertiary institutions, where learning becomes a shared responsibility rather than a forced exercise. She advocated a shift from authority-based relationships to partnership-based engagement between lecturers and students.

In his welcome address, the Director of the Counselling, Human Development and Career Service Centre, AFUED, Dr. Martins Femi Dada, stated that the workshop was designed to promote effective lecturer-student engagement and equip students with skills relevant to a rapidly changing global environment.

He reaffirmed the importance of artificial intelligence in educational development and stressed the need for educators to continuously adapt and innovate in response to emerging challenges and opportunities.

The workshop, held at the Obongawan Grace Ekong Lecture Theatre, was attended by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ireti Folasade Alao, who represented the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Bayode Isaiah Popoola, alongside senior university officials, including deans, directors, heads of departments, and members of the academic community.