Emeka Ezekwe shines at Unizik AI workshop, bags award

A high chief, Emeka Ezekwe, the MD/CEO of Arrowconn Group, and Chairman Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce Professional Services and Consultancy Trade Group, was celebrated as a key figure at a landmark technical workshop organized by the Department of Business Education, Faculty of Technology and Vocational Education, Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka.

The event at the ASUU-NAU Secretariat, focused on the theme, “Technicalities and Application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Business and Education.”

Ezekwe served as special guest of honour and keynote speaker, delivering what was seen as a compelling address on AI’s transformative role in modern society.

In recognition of his philanthropic contributions, academic support, and dedication to human capital development, Ezekwe was presented with the Philanthropist Award and Award of Excellence (also described as the Award of Digital Academic Promoter). The honours were conferred on him by the Vice-Chancellor, Ugochukwu Bond Stanley Anyaehie, who praised Ezekwe’s commitment to bridging industry and academia.

During his presentation, Ezekwe described the current AI surge as a civilizational shift rather than a mere technological upgrade. He compared AI’s rapid trajectory to past innovations like electricity, computers, the internet, and mobile phones, which progressed from luxuries to necessities.

“AI is reshaping value creation, knowledge sharing, and decision-making at unprecedented speed,” Ezekwe emphasized. “It has moved from experimentation to execution, powering business forecasting, academic research, digital learning, and strategic decisions.”

He warned that in business, delays lead to losses, while in education, irrelevance spells failure. “Those who master AI will shape markets, education, and policy; those who lag will be shaped by others,” he said.

Ezekwe outlined AI’s practical advantages for businesses—including data-driven strategies, smarter investments, scalable customer insights, and competitive edges for SMEs—and its potential to help Africa leapfrog development stages for faster wealth creation.

In education, he clarified that AI empowers rather than replaces teachers.

Ezekwe urged ethical AI development, warning that “technology without values is dangerous,” and called on institutions like UNIZIK to update curricula, train educators, promote interdisciplinary work, and forge industry partnerships. The goal: produce graduates who are solution providers in an AI-driven world.

The workshop also marked the unveiling of the maiden edition of the UNIZIK Journal of Business Education and Entrepreneurship.

There seems to be a growing synergy between Nigerian academia and visionary business leaders in preparing the nation for the AI era.