Vice Chancellor, Others Want AI-driven Education With Africa’s Identity

The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), in collaboration with the Commonwealth of Learning (COL), has opened a two-day regional workshop on Open Educational Resources (OER) Practices in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (AI), with experts stressing that Africa must embrace AI in ways that uphold its cultural and intellectual identity.

Organised through the Regional Training and Research Institute for Distance and Open Learning (RETRIDOL), the workshop brings together academics, policy makers, distance-learning leaders, and education officials from six West African countries under the theme “Emerging Issues in OER Practices in the Age of AI.”

At the opening session yesterday in Abuja, the vice chancellor of NOUN, Prof. Olufemi Peters, affirmed the institution’s commitment to innovations that respect diversity and promote inclusive learning across the continent.
The vice chancellor, represented by the deputy vice chancellor (Academics), Prof. Chiedu Mafiana, said the workshop was timely, following global discussions on the future of learning in an AI-driven world.

“AI presents exciting possibilities for education, yet it must be used with great care. African institutions must lead with their values, rather than merely adopting foreign models.

“Our knowledge systems, our histories and our cultural perspectives matter deeply. We must build tools and policies that reflect the realities of our people. NOUN will continue to champion open, accessible and culturally grounded learning,” he said.

Earlier, the deputy director of RETRIDOL, Prof. Dorothy Ofoha, said the workshop comes at a time when institutions globally are reevaluating the role of AI in education.

She emphasised that while the technology offers immense potential, African countries must protect their unique values and identities as they adopt AI tools.

“We are entering a period of profound change in how knowledge is created and shared. AI has the power to support more flexible, inclusive, and high-quality learning.

“Yet, we must ensure these tools do not override our cultural and educational values. Africa must use AI to strengthen, not dilute, our systems. This workshop is where we begin to shape that responsible path.”

The adviser on Higher Education at COL in Vancouver, Prof. Jane-Frances Agbu, reaffirmed COL’s mission to widen access to learning across the Commonwealth through openness, collaboration and technology.

She said, “Artificial intelligence is reshaping education at an unprecedented speed. The challenge before us is to ensure that openness and equity remain at the centre.

“OER must continue to serve as trusted digital public goods for all learners. We must prepare our institutions to use AI thoughtfully, ethically, and responsibly. Most importantly, African languages and knowledge systems must stay central in this evolution.”