ASCOM PRESS
“Nigerians, particularly students and stakeholders in tertiary institutions, have been urged to embrace the practical application of artificial intelligence (AI), with the assertion that the nation's prosperity depends not merely on theoretical knowledge but on citizens equipped with the competence to apply AI in solving real-world challenges.”
The charge was made during the Faculty of Business and Communication Studies (FBCS) Annual National Conference, themed "Leveraging Artificial Intelligence for Innovative Leadership and Security Management in Nigeria," where participants explored the transformative role of AI in advancing leadership, governance, and national security.
In his address, the acting rector, Prof. T.A. Lasisi, stated that AI is no longer a concept reserved for universities. He noted that The Polytechnic, Ibadan’s mandate is to “put knowledge to work" and urged students and professionals in accounting, mass communication, business, agriculture, and technical fields to learn how to prompt, supervise, and apply AI tools. He charged Nigerians to put artificial intelligence to work for better leadership and stronger security, saying AI is already helping governance in Nigeria today.
He added that the economies that will grow are those with people who can operate and guide AI across clinics, farms, banks, newsrooms, and workshops, he said.
Speaking on leadership, the rector said Nigeria has often relied on rumor and the loudest voice, but AI demands decisions based on evidence. He cautioned, however, that algorithms carry the biases of their data.
Delivering a keynote address, Prof. Benjamin Osawaye Ehigie gave a keynote to the proceedings by asserting that artificial intelligence is no longer a futurist concept but a present-day tool for transformation.
Speaking on the theme of the day, Prof. Ehigie said AI can create global relevance even for small businesses. He cited a craftswoman who used AI to scale her work and gain international recognition within a short time.
He also defined a leader as a vision setter and inspirer of change, not just a manager of procedures. He described innovative leadership as the ability to spot problems, proffer solutions, and empower others to create ideas.
On security, he said it involves policies that protect lives and property and noted that AI’s ability to perceive, process, and understand information makes it critical for national safety. He added that leverage means using tools like AI to multiply effort and achieve more.
AI is a physical tool to dismantle threats and protect Nigeria. The future of our national security will depend on how well we adopt it, he concluded.
Prof. Emmanuel Remi Aiyede of the Department of Political Science, University of Ibadan, further highlighted that Nigeria's path to better governance and security lies in governance with intelligence. Speaking on AI and security in Nigeria, with a focus on Oyo State, Prof. Aiyede noted that tools like drones and other AI materials can be deployed to address insecurity. He stressed that AI offers major opportunities to transform governance by providing reliable data for decision-making.
In his speech he noted the strategy framework for AI in governance, where he proposed a six-pillar roadmap for ethical AI integration. He explained how AI is shaping security governance in Nigeria, its implications, challenges, and solutions.
Prof. Aiyede’s charge was direct: Nigeria has a choice: to lead or to be led.” He said the opportunities are here, and the future is not inherited but created.
The FBCS annual national conference underscores faculty's commitment to advance research and national development through academic discourse. It concluded with a clear call for stakeholders in government, academia, and the private sector to embrace the responsible use of artificial intelligence as a strategic tool for promoting innovation, strengthening national security, and advancing sustainable development in Nigeria.