By Tunde Uchegbuo
Artificial intelligence is no longer a future promise; it is the defining technology of the present global economy. According to the 2025 United Nations Trade and Development report, the AI market is projected to explode to an astonishing $4.8 trillion by 2033, from $189 billion in 2023. This is a 25-fold increase in just a decade. Sadly, AI potentials are concentrated and dominated by a handful of companies and countries in developed economies. The gap could widen if nothing is done to bridge it.
In this regard, institutions that invest early in artificial intelligence centres are not just keeping pace with global trends, but are positioning their students and lecturers to compete, innovate, and lead in an AI-driven world. Against this backdrop, the recent establishment of a Centre for Artificial Intelligence at Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, by the Acting Vice Chancellor, Professor Okechuku Onuchuku, is both timely and visionary.
The proactive step positions the institution not only as a consumer of digital innovation but as an active contributor to Nigeria’s emerging knowledge economy. It also places the university as the first public university to establish such centre in the south-south region, and marks a major milestone in Prof. Onuchuku’s digital transformation vision at the university.
The coordinator of the centre, Dr. Kingsley Igulu, while revealing a five-year strategic road map for the centre from 2025 to 2030, disclosed that the objectives of the centre are to promote cutting-edge and SDG-oriented research in AI; provide specialised training and education in AI; and drive innovation and entrepreneurship in AI. Others include collaborate with industry, government, and academic institutions to solve local and global real-world problems using AI, advocate for and promote ethical and responsible use of AI; and to position IAUE as a leader in AI among institutions in Nigeria and Africa at large.
Dr. Igulu disclosed that the centre would position the university as a leading entrepreneurial AI hub for sustainable research, innovation, idea incubation, capacity development, and as a 5IR-ready university. According to him, the centre would run specialized short-term programmes on Python programming, Data Science, Blockchain, cybersecurity, Robotics, and AI in supply chain with industry collaborators. In the long run, the centre would run specialised and industry-blended MSc and PhD programmes in AI and interdisciplinary fields.
An AI centre in a university setting is more than a physical space or a collection of computers. It is a strategic ecosystem designed to drive learning, research, innovation, and public service in ways that align with the demands of the 21st-century digital society.
For students, the relevance of an AI centre is immediate and profound. Artificial intelligence has become a core skill across disciplines, not just in computer science or engineering. Education, journalism, health sciences, social sciences, business, and the creative industries are all being transformed by AI-powered tools.
An AI centre provides students with hands-on exposure to emerging technologies such as machine learning, data analytics, natural language processing, robotics, and intelligent tutoring systems. Instead of relying solely on theoretical instruction, students can learn by doing, building models, experimenting with datasets, and solving real-world problems. This practical exposure significantly enhances employability, as graduates leave the university with skills that align with current industry needs.
For lecturers, the centre would promote interdisciplinary research, bringing together experts in education, sciences, technology, social sciences, and the humanities to explore how AI impacts teaching methods, ethics, culture, governance, and human development. Such collaboration is essential in ensuring that AI solutions are locally relevant and socially responsible. In addition, lecturers can use AI-enhanced teaching tools to improve curriculum delivery, assessment, and student engagement. This leads to higher teaching effectiveness and improved learning outcomes.
Beyond academics, an AI centre can function as an innovation and incubation hub where students and staff with creative ideas can develop prototypes, applications, and digital solutions to societal challenges. This could range from educational technology and health diagnostics to agricultural forecasting and smart governance tools.
By partnering with industry, startups, and government agencies, the centre can help translate research outputs into market-ready products and services. This supports entrepreneurship, job creation, and economic diversification and aligns with the critical goals in Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda.In fact, the benefits of an AI centre extend beyond the university community to the wider public. Through short courses, workshops, and community outreach programmes, the centre can promote digital literacy and AI awareness among teachers, civil servants, journalists, and small business owners. Public-sector institutions can also benefit from AI-driven research and consultancy, especially in areas such as education planning, data management, policy analysis, and service delivery. Importantly, the centre can play a key role in shaping ethical and responsible AI use, ensuring that technology serves humanity and does not deepen inequality or exclusion.
By establishing a Centre for Artificial Intelligence, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education signals its readiness to engage with the future of work, learning, and innovation. The centre will strengthen the university’s academic reputation, attract partnerships and funding opportunities, and prepare graduates for the global labour markets. More importantly, it reinforces the university’s role as a driver of social progress and national development.
