AI integration in education, workplace crucial for Nigeria’s future – UNILAG professor

A Professor of Labour Economics and Human Resource Management at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Professor Olukemi Iyabode Lawanson, has urged all levels of government to implement policies that promote the ethical use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education, industry, and governance.

She made this call while delivering the 7th Inaugural Lecture of the 2024/2025 Academic Session, held on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at the J.F. Ade-Ajayi Auditorium, UNILAG, Akoka.

AI’s Disruptive Impact on Jobs

In her lecture titled “To Everything, There is a Season…: The Perspective of a Labour Economist,” Prof. Lawanson underscored the urgency for Federal, State, and Local governments to equip educational institutions at all levels for the automation that AI is driving.

She highlighted AI’s growing influence in key sectors, including banking, healthcare, e-commerce, security, and telecommunications, which has led to a surge in demand for AI professionals. Citing the World Economic Forum’s list of sought-after jobs, she noted that roles like AI Engineers and Machine Learning Specialists are becoming increasingly relevant.

She warned that AI and automation could overrun professions such as customer service representatives, front desk officers/receptionists, accountants/bookkeepers, warehouse workers, research analysts, book-keeping clerks

Conversely, she listed professions that AI is unlikely to replace, including:

Human Resource Management
Teachers
Judges/Lawyers
Writers and creatives
Politicians
Healthcare professionals
Clergy
Call for AI-Focused Education

Prof. Lawanson emphasized the need for universities to integrate AI-related courses into their curricula, covering subjects such as machine learning & deep learning, natural Language Processing (NLP)
Robotics & Data Science, AI Ethics & Governance as well as Generative AI & Computer Vision.

She also stressed the importance of developing workplace AI skills, including IT Project Management, Emotional Intelligence, and AI Model Tuning, which will equip both new graduates and experienced professionals for the evolving job market.

Policy Recommendations for AI Adoption

To prepare for an AI-driven future, Prof. Lawanson urged the government to establish a comprehensive AI policy for education, provide AI research grants to universities, invest in AI infrastructure across industries, encourage AI skills development through training and promote AI governance and ethics to ensure responsible use
.She also called on academics to leverage AI for administrative efficiency, use AI-powered learning platforms, and employ AI tools to stimulate critical thinking and social-emotional learning among students.