By Ifedayo Adebayo
Experts in the country’s education sector have raised concerns over the increasing reliance on artificial intelligence in learning spaces, warning that while tech is important, it must not replace human thinking.
Speaking at the EdTech Roundtable on Wednesday in Lagos, themed “Harmonizing Human Interaction and Technology: Bridging the Digital Divide for Inclusive Education,” Founder and Director-General of Rhealyz Africa, Dr Ireti Adesida, said there is a need to find balance between digital innovation and human control.
“We are now in the technological age. It’s about technology, technology, technology,” he said. “But even when we have tech, we should still remain human. We should be able to control it. That is very important.”
Dr. Adesida warned that overdependence on digital tools, especially in education, is already leading to a decline in students’ critical thinking abilities.
“Everybody is relying on tech. Our brain should also work. If not, then we keep sleeping. For how long are we going to rely on it?” he asked.
“We are developing a structure where we can still remain human despite the digital age. We are building a network, a community that will continue this work across Africa,” he added.
Also representing the government interest at the event, the Executive Secretary at the Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board (LASTVEB), Moronke Azeez, noted that EdTech became a lifeline during the COVID-19 lockdown, which she claimed left over 8,000 technical students of the state at home.
“Many believed skills training could only take place in the classroom or workshop. But we couldn’t leave students idle. We introduced digital learning tools, and it changed the game,” she said.
According to Azeez, the board has since rolled out compulsory ICT classes for all students and trained teachers on platforms like Google Classroom and Canva.
She added that students in engineering now learn AutoCAD, while robotics is used to foster creativity and innovation.
“We support students’ creativity by using robotics, enabling them to create projects and participate in competitions. These efforts have earned us both local and international recognition,” she noted.
Director at the Lagos State Ministry of Education, Mr Abatan Adedamola, also stressed the state’s commitment to inclusive learning. “We have inclusive units in all our schools. We want a situation where, irrespective of your abilities or background, you are able to learn in a serene environment,” he said.
The roundtable, organised by the National Consultative Working Group (CWG) on EdTech with support from GIZ and Global Campaign for Education, aims to develop a policy document on AI use with recommendations for government and global stakeholders.
