DELSU hosts global AI workshop led by Prof. Tsetimi, drafting Nigeria's first AI policy to guide teaching, research, and community service innovations.
Delta State University Hosts International Workshop on AI Policy
Abraka, Nigeria – October 11, 2024
Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, held an impactful one-day international workshop on October 10 to discuss the development of a comprehensive AI policy aimed at responsibly integrating artificial intelligence into teaching, research, and community service. This event, organized by the DELSU Senate Committee on AI Policy and led by Professor Jonathan Tsetimi, Director of the Centre for Research and International Programmes (CRIP), showcased DELSU's commitment to pioneering AI in Nigerian higher education. The Deputy Director of CRIP, Dr. Esther U. Kadiene, was also actively involved as a co-opted member of the Local Organizing Committee.
With the theme, “Towards Responsible Use of AI in DELSU for Teaching, Research, and Community Service,” the hybrid workshop convened global experts in artificial intelligence, including academics, policymakers, and industry professionals, both in person at the Faculty of Management Sciences Conference Hall on Site III and virtually.
In his opening address, DELSU Vice Chancellor, Prof. Andy O. Egwunyenga, represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Rosemary Okoh, emphasized the university’s commitment to harnessing AI’s potential to advance learning, accelerate research, and foster social impact while addressing ethical concerns surrounding privacy, accountability, and job displacement.
Keynote speaker Emeritus Professor Peter Okebukola, former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), commended DELSU’s leadership in AI policy development, calling the initiative "timely and transformative." He emphasized the need for training both academic and non-academic staff to maximize AI's benefits while mitigating risks, such as data bias and potential misuse.
Other notable speakers included Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede, President of the National Association of AI Practitioners (NAAIP), and Prof. Sami Souissi from Université de Lille, France. Ogunbodede reviewed DELSU’s draft AI policy, providing insights into ethical and practical considerations for AI deployment in education. Prof. Souissi highlighted AI's role in promoting equitable and inclusive learning environments.
Organizing Committee Chair, Prof. Tsetimi, directed the workshop, which included roundtable discussions on the specific applications of AI across DELSU’s faculties. Breakout sessions covered topics from generative AI to its integration in various disciplines, with panel chairs from across DELSU’s academic units guiding the discussions.
The workshop’s success, marked by about 500 attendees and live-streamed participation from international experts, underscored DELSU’s commitment to remaining at the forefront of educational innovation in Nigeria. The NUC’s Executive Secretary, Amb. Chris Maiyaki, who joined virtually, praised DELSU as the first university in Nigeria to develop an AI policy, pledging NUC’s full support to ensure its successful implementation.
In his closing remarks, Prof. Tsetimi expressed appreciation for the engagement and shared that the university will soon release the finalized AI policy document, setting a national standard for AI integration in higher education.