UI VC Urges Secondary School Students to Embrace Digital Safety in Age of AI

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan (UI), Professor Kayode O. Adebowale, has urged secondary school students to become responsible digital citizens by adopting safe, ethical and critical approaches to using technology and artificial intelligence (AI).

Adebowale gave the charge at the 2026 Digital Safety Workshop organised by the University of Ibadan Women Society (UIWS) under the theme, “Smart Digital Citizens: Staying Safe in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.”

The workshop brought together secondary school students from 10 schools across Ibadan to equip them with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate an increasingly digital and AI-driven world.

The Vice-Chancellor commended the UIWS, led by Dr Yemisi Adebowale, for organising the programme, describing it as timely and essential to the nation's future.

He said the initiative reflected the university's commitment to extending its intellectual resources beyond the campus and ensuring that knowledge generated within the institution benefits society.

Adebowale noted that artificial intelligence had evolved from a distant concept into a present-day reality influencing communication, education, entertainment and access to information. However, he expressed concern about the rapid pace of technological development and the need to establish safeguards to address emerging risks.

He also stressed the importance of ensuring that Africans participate actively in discussions and developments surrounding AI to improve their understanding of its implications and prepare for its consequences.

According to him, the growing use of digital platforms has heightened concerns about misinformation, deepfakes, privacy violations, cyberbullying and the manipulation of young people through harmful or addictive content.

He identified awareness, critical thinking, responsibility and resilience as four essential qualities of smart digital citizens, urging students to understand both the opportunities and risks associated with online spaces.

The Vice-Chancellor encouraged the students to question information they encounter online, recognise the lasting implications of their digital footprints and protect their mental health and well-being from online pressures.

He further advised them to use technology constructively rather than allow it to control their lives, urging them to remain curious but cautious, connected but discerning, and consistently ethical in their digital interactions.

Adebowale also called on the students to become digital safety ambassadors in their schools and communities by sharing the knowledge acquired at the workshop with their peers and promoting discussions on responsible technology use.

He urged principals and teachers from the participating schools to integrate digital literacy into classroom activities, create safe environments where students could discuss their online experiences and strengthen partnerships with the university.

Speaking on behalf of the President of the University of Ibadan Women Society, Dr Yemisi Adebowale, Dr Temilola Olapegba said the workshop reflected the society's commitment to equipping young people with the knowledge and skills required to navigate a rapidly changing world.

She explained that the programme was designed to move students beyond being ordinary technology users to becoming informed, responsible, safe and critical digital citizens.

Adebowale also appreciated the Vice-Chancellor for chairing the event and supporting the initiative, while commending the principals and teachers for ensuring their students participated in the programme.

Delivering a keynote address titled “Digital Citizens: Staying Safe in the Age of Artificial Intelligence,” the Director of the UI Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Professor Sherifat Adeyinka Aboaba, emphasised the need to equip young people with the knowledge and confidence to navigate the opportunities and challenges presented by AI.

Another speaker, Dr Aderonke Busayo Sakpere, delivered a lecture titled “Smart Digital Citizens: Staying Safe in the Age of AI.”

Sakpere addressed cybersecurity, social media, privacy, misinformation and digital footprints, highlighting six essential skills for navigating an increasingly connected, AI-powered world. They include:

* Understanding cybersecurity basics.

* Practising responsible social media use.

* Understanding artificial intelligence and its limitations.

* Managing digital footprints.

* Identifying misinformation.

* Practising privacy-conscious and responsible technology use.

The participating schools were:

* The International School, Ibadan.

* Baptist Secondary School.

* Olives International School.

* Maverick School.

* Bishop Philips Academy.

* Methodist Grammar School.

* Abadina College.

* Immanuel College High School.

* Saint Louis Grammar School.

* Hillcrest High School.

The workshop highlighted the importance of digital literacy, online safety and responsible technology use among young people as artificial intelligence continues to reshape education, communication and everyday life.