By Mustapha Salisu
The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has hosted the 6th edition of its Digital Tech Policy Forum, bringing together stakeholders to examine the responsible and ethical use of artificial intelligence (AI) in higher education.
The forum, held on Thursday at CITAD’s Kano office, was themed “AI in Academia: Negotiating Benefits in the Context of Crisis and Complexity.” It attracted participants from academia, the technology industry, media, civil society, and other sectors to discuss the opportunities and challenges presented by the rapid adoption of AI in education.
Speaking at the opening of the forum, CITAD’s Digital Rights Officer, Ali Sabo, welcomed participants on behalf of the organisation and stressed the importance of dialogue on the growing influence of artificial intelligence in academic institutions.
Delivering the keynote presentation, Dr. Sana Abdullahi Muazu from Bayero University, Kano, described AI as an intelligent assistant capable of improving productivity, creativity and learning when used responsibly.
She stressed that AI should complement, rather than replace, human expertise in education.
“Artificial intelligence will not replace education; rather, it will redefine it. The future belongs not to those who resist AI, nor to those who depend entirely on it, but to those who combine technological innovation with human wisdom, ethical responsibility and critical thinking,” she said.
Dr. Sana explained that while AI offers benefits in teaching, research, and and administrative processes, it also presents challenges such as data privacy concerns, the digital divide and ethical dilemmas.
She noted that AI is not a neutral technology because it interacts with existing social structures and should be used to support academic thinking instead of replacing scholarly judgment.
Also speaking, Engineer Muhammed Bello Yahaya of CITAD said universities around the world are grappling with challenges including inadequate funding, rising student enrolment, digital inequity and the increasing demand for graduates with future-ready skills.
He noted that artificial intelligence has the potential to transform education through personalised learning, intelligent tutoring systems and improved accessibility, while referencing UNESCO’s position that AI should enhance not replace the role of teachers.
Yahaya identified academic integrity, ethical concerns and educational risks as some of the major challenges associated with AI adoption in higher education.
According to him, responsible AI integration in universities lies on five pillars which are lifelong learning, digital inclusion, human-centred education, ethics and governance.
He added that universities of the future are expected to adopt AI-powered teaching assistants, personalised curricula, smart campuses, AI-supported laboratories and virtual learning environments.
“The workforce of the future will require critical thinking, AI literacy, ethics and creativity,” Yahaya said.