Abuja (Nigeria): Education experts have called on school owners, policymakers, and government leaders to prioritise early Artificial Intelligence (AI) literacy for students and teachers.
Abba Saidu, Executive Director of Glisten International Academy, made the call at an AI-focused Empowerment Programme organised by the Miraisha Foundation Nigeria, an NGO, in Abuja on Thursday.
The event was organised to commemorate the International Day of the Girl-Child with the theme: “The Girl I am, The Change I Lead: Girls on the Frontline of Crisis”.
Saidu also advocated empowerment of girls to explore their full potential in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.
“Empower girls to know that they can unleash their potential, that they can also do what men are doing. They can be in these fields and all the fields of STEM.
“And that just basically inspires them and also lets them know of the key subject or areas that need to be highlighted.
“Like today, we spoke about their potential to use their brains, their voices and sisterhood.
“And with more issues of what we have today in the future with the AI usage, they need to fine-tune their skills and navigate the challenges around the world for a better future for everyone,” he said.
He emphasised that girls must be encouraged to “unleash their potential” and pursue opportunities in male-dominated disciplines.
When asked if AI would erode the role of teachers, he noted that AI had already begun to take over certain aspects of teaching, as students now prefer to seek AI clarification.
He urged educators and administrators to take proactive steps to close the AI knowledge gap between teachers and students.
“It’s not to say that the teachers are not needed. Yes, we need the teachers to guide our students on how to ask these questions, as well as how to behave and use the AI tools.
“For every school owner in Nigeria, legislators, leaders, and anyone who is affected or has an interest in this country at heart, we need to take the aspect of AI literacy seriously.
“At a young age, we need to start letting our kids know how to use this AI.
“Even though we don’t allow them to use AI, we need to have a law or regulations on how everyone needs to know what AI literacy is all about,” he said.
Also speaking, Dr Semira Jibri, the National President, National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools(NAPPS), encouraged young girls to embrace courage, innovation, and self-belief as they pursue opportunities in AI and other emerging fields.
Jibri, who is also the Chief Executive of Glisten International Academy, noted that while many girls were celebrated in social and entertainment spaces, fewer were recognised in the fields of science, technology, and innovation.
“Girls are powerful, they are unique, but they need to know more, and the bias that girls can’t do this has to be wiped away. We know certainly that they can do it when they put themselves to it.”
One of the participating students, Imelda Odey, who shared her view about AI in learning and gender bias, called for improved use of AI in the education system.
Odey, who is nursing the ambition of becoming a lawyer, explained that growing up as a girl often comes with challenges, including gender-based mistreatment and social pressure that silences young women.
“When people hit us or make us feel small, we enter into our shell and feel threatened. But I want to help women know that they matter, their voice matters,” she said.
Odey also highlighted the importance of training teachers to become more digitally literate and adaptable in a rapidly evolving technological world.
“Many teachers don’t use AI. They are old-fashioned, but now AI is everywhere.
Teachers should be more engaged and provide supervision to students while they learn about AI. It will help both teachers and pupils to improve,” she said.
She also cautioned that while AI is beneficial, it must be used wisely to complement and not replace human learning.
“AI has helped me in school, especially in computing classes. But it’s not every time you use AI; sometimes you should think for yourself before going to it,” she advised.
