AI Won’t Replace Lecturers, Says ATBU Don

By Ali Yusuf Abdullahi

The Director of Information and Communication Technology, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Abdulkadir Danlami, has assured that Artificial Intelligence will not replace lecturers but will rather strengthen their roles as facilitators of knowledge.

Danlami gave the assurance on Wednesday in Bauchi during a one-day train-the-trainers workshop on the Distinction Application learning platforms organised for academic staff of the institution.

He said Artificial Intelligence was no longer a futuristic concept, noting that it was already influencing how academic content is created, delivered, assessed, and improved upon.

According to him, AI in education supports personalised learning, intelligent feedback, improved course design, and better understanding of students’ engagement.

“As lecturers, we must therefore evolve beyond traditional teaching methods and embrace tools that enhance both teaching effectiveness and student learning outcomes.

“Importantly, AI does not replace the lecturer; rather, it supports and strengthens our role as facilitators of knowledge and mentors to learners.

“The Distinction App, which is the focus of this workshop, is a practical platform that aligns with these global trends,” he said.

Danlami explained that the training was aimed at building the capacity of lecturers to adopt AI tools in teaching and in their interaction with students, adding that the university’s portal service provider developed the application to assist lecturers in generating notes, quizzes and engaging students both online and offline.

He said 50 academic staff drawn from various faculties were selected for the training, noting that the programme would be continuous to enable all lecturers to benefit.

Also speaking, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Ibrahim Garba described artificial intelligence as a game-changer in the rapidly evolving landscape of tertiary education.

Represented by the University Librarian, Dr Dauda Bakum, the Vice-Chancellor said embracing AI would position ATBU as a pioneer in digital innovation, ensuring its graduates remain competitive in an AI-driven world.

“By training our trainers as the vanguard of Distinction AI adoption, we multiply its impact across our faculties and ignite a culture of digital proficiency that will distinguish ATBU in technology and innovation.

“Together, we will shape the future of tertiary education in Nigeria and beyond,” he said.