Technological advancement threatens companies’ survival – Expert

Universities have been advised to be flexible in their approaches to education, advising them to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) into their curricula. The Managing Director of New Horizon Limited, Tim Akano, raised the alarm during the maiden edition of the Lagos Spring School in Digital Entrepreneurship and Digital Culture, organised by the Centre for Digital […]

Universities have been advised to be flexible in their approaches to education, advising them to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) into their curricula.

The Managing Director of New Horizon Limited, Tim Akano, raised the alarm during the maiden edition of the Lagos Spring School in Digital Entrepreneurship and Digital Culture, organised by the Centre for Digital Humanities, University of Lagos (CEDHUL).

Akano stressed the continuous evolution of technology since the advent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, noting that some companies have gone out of business due to their failure to adapt to technological progress.

“When I was growing up, you go to university, you work for 35 years and you are still relevant but today knowledge becomes obsolete every five years and that is a business opportunity for UNILAG.

“Now the machine that will do your job is under innovation. In five years, you are obsolete,” he said.

He, however, urged universities to adopt more flexible approaches to education, advising them to integrate AI into their curricula. 

He further urged the University of Lagos (UNILAG) to establish a centre dedicated to skill renaissance.

Earlier the university’s vice chancellor, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, represented by the deputy vice chancellor, Development Services, Foluso Afolabi-Lesi, acknowledged the impact of AI in the rapid change in the sociocultural landscape, emphasising the need for students to be equipped with technological knowledge.

“We cannot afford to leave anyone behind, it is imperative that we equip ourselves and more importantly our students both undergraduates and postgraduates as well as scholars and researchers across disciplines with the skills and knowledge to navigate and thrive in this dynamic and disruptive environment.

“At the University of Lagos, our administration is deeply committed to a future ready agenda. This agenda is not merely a slogan. It is a guiding principle that informs every aspect of academic and administrative endeavor. We recognise that the future belongs to those who embrace technology, agile, adaptable and possess entrepreneurial skills to create value and thrive positive change,” the VC said.

The CEDHUL’s director, Prof. Tunde Ope-Davies, said the centre was established to address the gap in the field of digital humanities and equip students with the tech skills.

He hinted that the institution is working on a policy on AI.

“In recent weeks, the University of Lagos has been coming up with a policy on AI. So, we are bringing AI more into what we do at the university. In the next couple of years, we are going to now see how we can deploy AI into teaching, research, creating opportunities for our students and contributing to the digital economy.