A chief lecturer and former deputy rector, Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech), Lagos, Dr Omobayo Raheem, has attributed the inability of developing countries including Nigeria to effectively tap into the gains of artificial intelligence (AI) to poverty.
Raheem shared this thought and perspective while delivering the 17th inaugural lecture of the college, recently.
He spoke on a topic entitled, ‘Capacitance of Artificial Intelligence: Communication, Framing and Learning in a Growing Economy.’
According to him, poverty has been a major constraint to the national growth in Nigeria and many other developing and poor countries globally.
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“Poverty has served as a serious obstacle to a robust and competitive economy anywhere globally,” he added
The don explained that “eradication of poverty in all its ramifications should be considered as an indispensable requirement for sustainable economic growth by any country desirables to tap into the gains of artificial intelligence.”
While noting that AI has become an integral tool to everyday human life and engagements, Raheem highlighted AI as a tool for intensifying communication and improving teaching and learning when used responsibly.
He also posited that with the right infrastructure and guidance, AI can foster creativity, critical thinking, and increased computational capacity.
The don however, affirmed that since we now live in the age of digitisation and globalisation, AI cannot but play the role of a master key in growing the economy, expanding communication and broadening learning.
He described AI as a set of technologies that enable computers to perform a variety of advanced functions, including the ability to see, understand and translate spoken and written language, analyze data, make recommendations and so forth.
“So, AI, he added: “Is the backbone of innovation in modern computing, unlocking value for businesses, corporate bodies and bilateral engagement and so forth.
The lecturer maintained that AI had come to stay as it holds significant importance due to its trans-formative impact on various aspects of lives, and no longer a futuristic concept but a current reality reshaping industries across the globe; adding, individuals, companies, factories and even entire economies are making the best use of it, and Nigeria cannot afford to be aloof or lag behind.
The lecturer however, pointed to other challenges hindering developing the nations’ ability to tap into AI’s full potential listing integrity, copyright, plagiarism, electricity, insecurity, corruption, and terrorism as some of them.
In his contribution, the rector of the college, Dr Ibraheem Abdul, praised the inaugural lecturer, expressing optimism that the knowledge gained through his lecture would have significant impact on the audience and the society at large.
He congratulated him, saying he is being discharged and acquitted from academic debt he owed the college as a scholar.
Dignitaries at the event included the Aseyin of Iseyin land, Oba Sefiu Olawale Oyebola Adeyeri III, Baale of Abule-Ijesha, Alhaji Haruna Alli Dawodu, and former Lagos State gubernatorial aspirant, Mr Jimi Agbaje, among others
