Text: Funmilayo Adeyemi
Education experts have stressed the need for Africa to embrace artificial intelligence (AI) in a way that preserves its cultural and intellectual identity.
They stated this at a two-day regional workshop on Open Educational Resources (OER) Practices in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (AI) held in Abuja on Tuesday.
The workshop was hosted by the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) in collaboration with Commonwealth Learning (COL) through the Regional Training and Research Institute for Distance and Open Learning (RETRIDOL).
The workshop theme is tagged “Emerging Issues in OER Practice in the Age of AI.”
NOUN Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olufemi Peter, declared the workshop open, calling it timely following the global debate on the future of learning in an AI-driven world.
Peter, who was represented by NOUN Vice-Rector (Academic) Professor Chiedu Mafiana, said the workshop brought together academics, policy makers, distance learning leaders and educators from six West African countries.
Peter affirmed the institution’s commitment to innovations that respect diversity and promote inclusive learning across the continent.
“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, history and cultural perspectives are critical. We need to build tools and policies that reflect the realities of our people.
“NOUN will continue to promote open, accessible, and culturally grounded learning,” Peter said.
The Vice-Chancellor encouraged participants to use the workshop to build networks that will sustain regional cooperation beyond the two-day event.
RETRIDOL Deputy Director Professor Dorothy Ofoha previously said the workshop was held at a time when educational institutions around the world were re-evaluating the role of AI in education.
Ofoha stressed that although the technology holds immense potential, African countries need to protect their own values and identities when deploying AI tools.
“We are at a time of profound change in the way we create and share knowledge, and 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,” she said.
He also said participants will collaborate to design frameworks and policies that support AI-enhanced OER development based on the African context.
Professor Jane Frances-Agbu, Higher Education Advisor for COL in Vancouver, reaffirmed COL’s mission to expand access to learning across the Commonwealth.
This will be achieved through openness, collaboration and technology, she said.
“Artificial intelligence is reshaping education at an unprecedented speed. The challenge before us is to keep openness and equity at the center.
“OER must continue to serve as a trusted digital public good for all learners.
“We must prepare institutions to use AI thoughtfully, ethically and responsibly. Most importantly, African languages and knowledge systems must remain central to this evolution,” she said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Uche Anunne
