Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, has urged Nigerian universities to establish Artificial Intelligence (AI) task forces to guide the responsible use of AI in teaching, learning, research, and administration.
Pantami made the call on Monday at the opening of a three-day national conference organised by Gombe State University with the theme, “Generative AI: Transforming Education—Opportunities, Challenges, and Ethical Considerations.”
Delivering the keynote address, Pantami outlined key recommendations for universities, stressing the need for a structured framework to harness AI’s potential while addressing ethical and academic concerns.
He recommended that universities should first form AI task forces comprising academics, legal experts, and technologists to develop clear policies on AI use in research and student projects.
Pantami also urged institutions to encourage AI-focused startups among students by leveraging opportunities under the Nigeria Startup Act 2022 and accessing government innovation funds.
He further advised universities to increase investment in AI research through partnerships with government and the private sector and to train academic and non-academic staff on AI tools for effective teaching and administration.
To preserve academic integrity, Pantami called on universities to deploy plagiarism and AI-detection tools to ensure originality in scholarly work.
“AI will not replace human beings, but those who learn how to use it will replace those who fail to learn it,” Pantami said, noting that the integration of ethical AI education into university curricula was essential for global competitiveness.
The former minister, who serves as Co-Chair of the African Union’s 4th Industrial Revolution Policy Council, highlighted the benefits of AI tools such as Zotero, Connected Papers, and Research Rabbit in improving research productivity.
However, he warned that challenges such as academic dishonesty, data privacy breaches, and algorithmic bias could undermine educational standards if not properly managed.
He urged Nigerian universities to emulate global institutions like Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), which have developed comprehensive policies for AI governance.
Pantami emphasized that the responsible adoption of AI should balance innovation with ethics.
“AI is a tool for progress, not a threat. Our task is to use it responsibly to build a smarter and more productive academic community,” he said.
