How AI can enhance our service delivery – Egbewole

… as CIS holds 3rd International Conference

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, has underscored the crucial role that Artificial Intelligence (AI) could play in enhancing service delivery at the University.

Prof. Egbewole made this observation last Wednesday (May 22, 2024) while speaking at the 3rd International Conference on ICT for National Development, organised by the Faculty of Communication and Information Sciences (CIS) at the University Auditorium.

The Vice Chancellor, who spoke through the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research, Technology and Innovation), Prof. Adegboyega Adisa Fawole, urged participants at the Conference to leverage the use of AI to redesign and rebrand the forms of discharging their responsibilities in order to achieve their set goals.

While noting that since the activities of many Unilorites require the use of AI in the performance of their tasks, they should use it appropriately to enhance their productivities and add more value to national development.

In his presentation, titled “Leveraging Artificial Intelligence and Big Data for Sustainable Development”, the Keynote Speaker, Prof. Abiodun Musa Aibinu, pointed out that AI is the study of how to make computer do things people are doing or the transfer of intelligence in man to machine, for robots to perform tasks or things commonly associated with intelligence.

Prof. Aibinu, who is the Vice Chancellor of Summit University, Offa, was represented at the event by Dr. Akeem Akinfenwa. He opined that the main goal of Artificial Intelligence has been to develop computer systems that equal or exceed human intelligence.

          Another Guest Speaker, the Vice Chancellor of Thomas Adewumi University, Oko, Prof. Francisco Onaolapo, who was represented at the event by Dr. Adekemi Dahunsi, spoke on “Sustainable Development Goals to fight poverty and address issue of climate change”. She said  that AI is transformative skill to health care, stating that it helps in detecting early age cancer, and useful in surgery to prevent many deadly diseases.

In his submission, the Permanent Secretary of the Sokoto State Ministry of Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Nasir Daniya, pointed out that “the spread of information and communication technology and global interconnectedness has great potential to accelerate human progress, to bridge the digital divide and to develop knowledge societies, as does scientific and technological innovation across areas as diverse as medicine and energy”.

Earlier in his remarks, the Dean of  Communication and Information Sciences (CIS), University of Ilorin, Prof. Lukman Adesina Azeez, said, “Our resolution to be part of the ongoing discussion and strategic plan on how to harness the power of Artificial Intelligence and how to make use of the Big Data, resulting from the Internet of Things as well as the social media for national development, is the major reason why we are presenting the theme of this year’s conference”.

Prof Azeez noted that it is widely known and acknowledged that Artificial Intelligence is now a trendy technology that is significantly transforming social progresses with its enormous economic potential that can facilitate the achievements of the Sustainable Development Goals. It has been established that AI will contribute up to $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030.

The Dean observed that this conference was aimed at analysing how Nigeria should not be left out of this economic treasure in a way that a renewed hope agenda of the present administration could be easily achieved. He said that in spite of the positive potential of AI to national development, it also comes with its complex social-technical challenges.

Prof. Azeez expressed hope that “at end of the conference, participants would be able to pool the ideas that can contribute significantly to the development of a national strategy, which the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy is presently coordinating and pursuing”, stressing that there is no doubt that the nation needs a strategy for harnessing the power of AI for sustainable development.

He appreciated the support of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Innovation and Digital Economy, Sokoto State, Dr. Nasir Daniya FNSC, for not only honouring the invitation to attend the Conference, but also for agreeing to deliver one of the lead papers.

He  acknowledged the assistance of the Federal Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy to the Faculty since the inception of the series of conferences on ICT for national development.

Prof. Azeez extended his appreciation to the management team of the University for the absolute and unadulterated support his Faculty has been receiving from them in all ramifications.

The Dean also expressed his profound gratitude to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Egbewole, for his untainted love and  support accorded the Faculty since he assumed the mantle of leadership of the University.

The Professor of Mass Communication also acknowledged the contribution of the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Is-haq Olanrewaju Oloyede, who conceptualised and nurtured the Faculty during his tenure as Vice Chancellor of the University, pointing out that the Faculty will ever be indebted to him for his courage in pioneering this first of its kind Faculty in the Nigerian university system.

In his goodwill message, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Olubunmi Abayomi Omotesho, said he was very excited to be part of the conference, saying that the Faculty of Communication and Information Sciences (CIS), University of Ilorin is one of his favourite Faculties on campus. He added that AI is one area that is turning the world upside down, as he urged both staff and students of the University to use AI positively.