Experts have stressed the importance of Africa deploying artificial intelligence (AI) in a way that preserves Africa’s cultural values and intellectual heritage.
They argued that while AI presents enormous opportunities for development, it must be deployed carefully to avoid erosion of local languages, traditions, and knowledge systems.
According to them, Africa’s approach to AI must be rooted in a framework that reflects indigenous perspectives, protects community knowledge, and ensures technology serves the continent’s unique social and cultural realities.
They spoke in Abuja on Tuesday at a two-day regional workshop on Open Educational Resources (OER) practices in the era of artificial intelligence (AI).
Organized by the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) and held in collaboration with the Commonwealth Learning Coalition (COL), the event brought together academics, policy makers, technical experts and development partners from across Africa and beyond under the theme “Emerging Issues in OER Practice in the Age of AI”.
NOUN Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olufemi Peters, declared the workshop open and affirmed the Institute’s commitment to innovations that respect diversity and promote inclusive learning across the continent.
Professor Chiedu Mafiana, who represented the Vice-Chancellor (Academic), said the workshop was timely following the global debate on the future of learning in an AI-driven world.
“AI offers exciting possibilities for education, but its use must be done with great care. African educational institutions must lead with their values, not just adopt foreign models.”
“Our knowledge systems, histories, and cultural perspectives are critical. We must build tools and policies that reflect the realities of our people. NOUN will continue to promote open, accessible, and culturally grounded learning.”
He encouraged participants to use the workshop to build networks that will sustain regional collaboration beyond the two-day event.
RETRIDOL Deputy Director Professor Dorothy Ofoha said the workshop comes at a time when educational institutions around the world are re-evaluating the role of AI in education.
He stressed that while the technology has immense potential, African countries need to protect their own values and identities when deploying AI tools.
In her words: “We are at a time of great change in the way we create and share knowledge. AI has the power to support more flexible, inclusive and high-quality learning.
“But we must ensure that these tools do not override our cultural and educational values. Africa must use AI to strengthen, not weaken, our systems. This workshop is where we begin to shape that responsible path.”
He added that participants will collaborate to design frameworks and policies that support AI-enhanced OER development based on the African context. He also acknowledged the contribution of resource experts Professor Francis Evogale and Professor Juliet Inebele to the advancement of OER.
Also, Professor Jane Frances-Agbu, Higher Education Advisor at the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) in Vancouver, reiterated that COL remains committed to expanding learning opportunities across the Commonwealth by promoting openness, partnerships and the strategic use of technology.
