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Embrace Artificial Intelligence with ethics, VC urges Nigerians
Embrace Artificial Intelligence with ethics, VC urges Nigerians
By:Michael Mike
The Vice-Chancellor of African School of Economics (The Pan African University of Excellence), Prof. Mahfouz Adedimeji, has urged Africans in general and Nigerians in particular to embrace Artificial Intelligence while cautioning that it is must be used ethically.
Prof. Adedimeji made this submission in his address, “The Past is Present, The Present is Now”, delivered at the maiden Public Lecture of the university held on Thursday, January 30, 2024. The theme of the lecture, delivered by the Managing Director and CEO of Galaxy Backbone Limited, an agency of the Federal Government, Prof. Ibrahim Adeyanju, was “Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Higher Education in Africa”.
According to the two-time Vice-Chancellor, humanity today stands precariously at the brink of a precipice with fascinating and disruptive technologies that can be used to make life easy and abused to commit atrocities. He described Artificial Intelligence, once a subject of science fiction, as a current reality that permeates various facets of our lives, with its potential in education being amazing, adding that it is part of the past that is still present and it is an innovation that will still shape the future and the future is here already.
“With AI, it is possible for each student to receive personalised instruction. We can also analyse vast amounts of data and gain insights into how each student learns best, meaning that a one-size-fits-all model of education may no longer be applicable or sustainable. AI opens new doors to customised learning experience that nurtures each student’s potential. With instructional tools, education can be more dynamic, engaging and interactive, sparking curiosity, igniting creative thinking and fostering a love for lifelong learning,” he said.
He also noted the indispensable roles of AI in facilitating access to education. “We know that AI can facilitate global access to quality education, the fourth Sustainable Development Goal, and bring world-class resources to remote and underserved areas, thereby breaking down geographical barriers and democratising access to knowledge. Students anywhere can also have access to the same cutting-edge materials and expert instruction available somewhere, leveling the playing field like never before. The opportunities are limitless,” he stressed.
Nevertheless, he warned against its abuse, arguing that while Africans embark on the exciting journey that AI offers, there is a need for protocol, policies and frameworks the safeguard those values that are dear to us from being eroded, so that technology one day does not become our master, controlling and misleading us. He added that the tail should not wag the dog and humans should always be in charge, not that we should allow technology to control us.
He illustrated the need for ethical use of AI with the situation encountered in the 2004 American film, “I, Robot”, which stars Will Smith. He said the film futuristically portrays intelligent robots filling up public service positions with a smart but technophobic cop investigating a crime that might have been perpetrated by a robot, which eventually constitutes a threat to humanity. He noted that there is ultimately a deadly class between smart robots and humans in the film portraying the threat to humans that created them.
Prof. Adedimeji further used the occasion to invite applicants to the University, which he described as a convention university that offers twenty academic programmes in Arts, Social Sciences, Science and Computing as well as Allied Health Sciences at the undergraduate level. He added that his university also runs approved postgraduate programmes in Economics, Public Administration, Business Administration as well as Finance and Management.
Embrace Artificial Intelligence with ethics, VC urges Nigerians
Troops kill two kidnappers, rescue three victims in Benue, recover cache of arms
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Sector 1, Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), in conjunction with the Benue State Civil Protection Guards, have neutralised two suspected kidnappers and rescued three abducted victims during a fighting patrol in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State.
Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the operation was conducted at about 3:00 a.m. on July 17 in the Tse-Togo and Utenge communities following intelligence on the activities of armed kidnappers in the area.
The sources said the troops engaged the criminals in a fierce gun battle, killing two of the suspected kidnappers and successfully rescuing three kidnapped victims unharmed.
Following the operation, troops exploited the kidnappers’ hideouts and recovered one AK-47 rifle, one G3 rifle, one pistol, 19 AK-47 magazines, one G3 magazine, 181 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition, 40 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, nine rounds of 5.56×45mm ammunition, two pairs of woodland camouflage uniforms, two pairs of desert camouflage uniforms, one Point-of-Sale (POS) terminal and one Tetron communication device.
The recovered items have been taken into custody, while the rescued victims have been reunited with their families after preliminary profiling.
Military authorities said clearance operations are continuing across the area to track down other fleeing members of the kidnapping syndicate and dismantle their remaining hideouts.
Troops kill two kidnappers, rescue three victims in Benue, recover cache of arms
Troops arrest five suspected militias, recover weapon in Benue operation
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Sector 1, Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), have arrested five suspected militia members and recovered a firearm during a clearance operation in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State.
Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the operation was carried out at about 8:00 a.m. on July 17 by troops deployed at Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) Otukpo and Oju.
The sources said the troops raided suspected militia enclaves located in the Otukpo-Nobi, Amichio and Amula Forest areas, leading to the arrest of five suspected militia members.
During the operation, the troops recovered one locally made Dane gun and five rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition.
The suspected militia camps were subsequently destroyed to deny the criminals the ability to regroup and continue their activities.
The suspects are currently in military custody for preliminary investigation, while efforts are ongoing to identify and apprehend other members of the criminal network operating in the area.
Troops arrest five suspected militias, recover weapon in Benue operation
Troops dismantle illegal refining site in Rivers, destroy equipment
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of the Joint Task Force South-South under Operation Delta Safe (OPDS) have dismantled an illegal refining site and destroyed equipment used for illicit petroleum refining in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the operation was conducted between 10:30 a.m. and 4:20 p.m. on July 17 during an anti-illegal bunkering patrol by troops of 103 Battalion (Mechanised).
The sources said the troops discovered the illegal refining site within Ogbogolo Community, where they recovered two locally fabricated refining ovens, two coolants, two reservoirs and two pipes measuring approximately 150 metres in length.
The recovered equipment was handled and destroyed in accordance with the mandate of Operation Delta Safe to combat crude oil theft, illegal refining and related economic sabotage in the Niger Delta.
Military authorities said troops remain committed to sustaining operations against illegal bunkering activities and protecting Nigeria’s critical oil and gas infrastructure across the region.
Troops dismantle illegal refining site in Rivers, destroy equipment
Troops kill two kidnappers, rescue three victims in Benue, recover cache of arms
Troops arrest five suspected militias, recover weapon in Benue operation
Troops dismantle illegal refining site in Rivers, destroy equipment
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