“STOP BUILDING PAPER UNIVERSITIES, BUILD AI-READY INSTITUTIONS”: PROF. AKIN OGUNDIRAN CHALLENGES UNIVERSITIES TO EMBRACE SMART TECHNOLOGY
The future of higher education cannot be built on certificates, lecture notes and impressive university buildings alone. Universities must prepare for a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, digital innovation and smart technology.
This was the message delivered by Prof. Akin Ogundiran at the inauguration lecture of the 14th Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Peter O. Olapegba.
Ogundiran challenged universities to move beyond what he described as “paper universities” and begin building institutions that are genuinely ready for the age of artificial intelligence.
He stressed that universities must rethink the way their facilities are designed and operated, insisting that laboratories, classrooms and other learning environments should be equipped with smart technology.
His position points to a bigger question facing higher education institutions: what does it mean to prepare students for a world that is changing faster than traditional academic systems can respond?
An AI-ready university must go beyond having computers or introducing artificial intelligence into its curriculum. It requires modern laboratories, technology-enabled classrooms, reliable digital infrastructure and learning facilities that encourage research, innovation, experimentation and practical problem-solving.
For the University of Ibadan and other Nigerian universities, the challenge is not simply to produce graduates with academic qualifications, but to equip them with the knowledge and practical skills needed to compete internationally.
Ogundiran's intervention is a timely reminder that the future of education will not be determined by the number of buildings a university owns or the volume of certificates it awards, but also by how effectively it prepares its students for the realities of a technology-driven world.
The message to university administrators is clear: the world is moving into the future. Universities must not remain trapped in the past.
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