The revolutionary and sometimes disruptive impact of artificial intelligence (AI) across all sectors has necessitated the need to balance its advancement with human creativity, especially in the age of intelligent machines, Marwan Al-Akaidi, vice-chancellor/CEO of Wigwe University, Isiokpo, Rivers State, Nigeria, has said.
Delivering a keynote address during a panel session at AAROHAN 3.0 – Global Innovation and Technology Summit, recently, Al-Akaidi underscored the critical role of human judgment, ethics, and creative problem-solving in an era dominated by machine learning.
According to him, while AI systems can process information at unprecedented scales, human judgment, ethics, and creative problem-solving remain irreplaceable.
His speech particularly focused on the ethical dimensions of AI implementation in African and global contexts, sharing insights from Wigwe University’s approach to technology education, which prioritises responsible innovation.
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Al-Akaidi commended AAROHAN 3.0 for fostering global dialogue on education transformation, adding that summits like this are crucial for sharing knowledge and potential collaborations between Indian and African institutions.
“When we combine Africa’s youthful energy, India’s tech prowess, and global expertise, we can create an educational revolution that serves humanity first,” he said.
Indu Shahani, founding president/chancellor of ATLAS SkillTech University, in her speech at the third edition of AAROHAN, ATLAS SkillTech University’s flagship Global Innovation and Technology Summit, said that the future belongs to institutions that successfully merge technological prowess with human-centred design, a sentiment powerfully echoed in Professor Al-Akaidi’s presentation.
“In this era of rapid technological transformation, AAROHAN 3.0 serves as a crucial platform to bridge the gap between academia and industry,” she stated, setting the tone for the day’s discussions. “We are proud to host global thought leaders like Marwan Al-Akaidi, who are shaping the future of education and innovation.”
Organised by ATLAS SkillTech University, AAROHAN 3.0 is a premier global summit that convenes thought leaders to explore the future of technology and education. This year’s edition focused on sustainable innovation and workforce transformation.
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Meanwhile, Marwan Al-Akaidi has called on the Niger-Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to collaborate with the institution in advancing educational development across the region.
Al-Akaidi made the call during a recent courtesy visit to Samuel Ogbuku, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NDDC in Port Harcourt.
He said that the university, backed by the Board of Trustees and the Governing Council, aspires to be ranked among Africa’s top institutions and compete globally.
The vice chancellor said that the visit was geared towards sharing the vision of the university’s late founder, Herbert Wigwe, with the Commission, with attention on producing graduates who would become change agents, thought leaders, and entrepreneurs that is employers of labour rather than job seekers.
“The goal is to nurture graduates who will lead, innovate, and launch startups after their programmes, and within our first academic year, we have already ignited this passion in our pioneer set of students,” he said.
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Samuel Ogbuku, who received the delegation alongside other Directors of the Commission, affirmed the NDDC’s commitment to work with distinctive educational institutions in the mould of Wigwe University, citing its history of infrastructure development at primary and tertiary levels across the region.
“Wigwe University’s presence in our region is a thing of pride to us, boasting some of Nigeria’s finest facilities, and partnering with this university aligns with our mandate of empowering the Niger-Delta youths through quality local education,” he said.
He assured the University of the Commission’s readiness to collaborate beyond the sphere of infrastructural development to designating Wigwe University as one of the tertiary institutions to host recipients of NDDC scholarship.
“I can assure you that it is our desire that Wigwe University’s unique academic offerings will be made accessible to qualified students from NDDC-affiliated states instead of sending them abroad,” he said.
