UNIZIK Empowers Staff and Students for the AI Future as Advancement Board Holds Strategic Capacity-Building Workshop
Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, has taken another bold step toward preparing its academic community for the future by organising a strategic workshop on Artificial Intelligence (AI) for lecturers and students. The training, organised by the UNIZIK Advancement Board (UAB), reflects the University’s growing commitment to innovation, digital transformation, and academic excellence.
The workshop, themed “AI Applications in Higher Education and Industry,” attracted leading academics, technology experts, industry professionals, researchers, administrators, and students who gathered to explore how Artificial Intelligence is transforming education, research, university administration, national security, and the modern workplace.
Delivering a welcome address during the training programme, the Director, UNIZIK Advancement Board, Prof. Ebele Onwuka described the training programme as another significant step in the collective commitment to positioning UNIZIK at the forefront of innovation, excellence and global best practices in higher education administration.
“As we navigate the rapidly evolving digital landscape, artificial intelligence has emerged as a transformative force with the potential to redefine how universities teach, conduct research, manage resources, engage stakeholders and deliver services.”
“The university advancement board recognises that embracing emerging technologies is no longer optional but essential for institutional growth, competitiveness and sustainability. This workshop. therefore, provides a timely opportunity for us to explore the vast possibilities that artificial intelligence offers in enhancing administrative efficiency, improving decision-making, strengthening research outputs, advancing teaching methodologies and deepening stakeholder
engagement.” She stated.
Prof. Onwuka also appreciated the distinguished resource persons who have
accepted their invitation to share their expertise and experiences and also commended the chairman and members of the university advancement board for their vision,
dedication and unwavering commitment to capacity development and institutional advancement.
“Their effort continues to create pathways for innovation, strategic partnerships, and sustainable development within our university. As participants, I encourage all of us to actively engage in the discussions, ask critical questions, share experiences and explore practical ways of integrating artificial intelligence tools into our various areas of responsibility. The knowledge acquired here today should not end within these walls but should translate into meaningful actions that will enhance the efficiency and effectiveness. and global relevance of our institution.”
Declaring the event open, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Bond Ugochukwu Anyaehie, who had earlier received the delegation on a courtesy call in his office pledged to continue championing innovations and repositioning the University to meet the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Prof. Anyaehie commended the University Advancement Board for the laudable initiative and applauded Prof. Mary Ebele Onwuka and her team for championing programmes that promote innovation, professional development, and institutional advancement.
He reaffirmed the university’s commitment to supporting initiatives that strengthen staff capacity and encourage the adoption of emerging technologies. The Vice-Chancellor emphasised that artificial intelligence has become a transformative force in higher education and industry, making it imperative for universities to embrace digital innovation in teaching, research, administration, and community engagement. He encouraged members of staff to take full advantage of the workshop to acquire relevant AI skills that would improve productivity, enhance service delivery, and position Nnamdi Azikiwe University as a leading institution in technology-driven education.
In his commitment to ensuring that UNIZIK remains a leader in higher education, the Vice-Chancellor has continued to promote initiatives that prepare both staff and students for a rapidly evolving digital world. Recognising that Artificial Intelligence is reshaping teaching, learning, research, governance, healthcare, business, and virtually every sector of society, the University is investing in building the digital skills needed to remain globally competitive.
The workshop aligns with UNIZIK’s vision of producing graduates who are equipped with relevant technological skills while empowering lecturers with modern tools to enhance teaching, research, and institutional effectiveness.
The first lecture was delivered by Prof Ikechukwu Onyenwe, on “AI as Your Digital Co-pilot: Improving Productivity, Decision-Making and Service Delivery.” He explained how AI can serve as a powerful productivity partner by improving efficiency, enhancing creativity, supporting informed decision-making, and simplifying complex tasks. Participants were introduced to concepts such as Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Natural Language Processing, Generative AI, and Large Language Models, while gaining an understanding of how AI systems are developed from data collection to deployment.
The second presentation, delivered by Prof. Casmir Ani, focused on “The Role of AI in National Security.” He discussed the growing influence of Artificial Intelligence in intelligence gathering, cyber defence, surveillance, border security, military operations, and strategic decision-making. He also highlighted important issues surrounding AI governance, ethics, infrastructure, and policy implementation, particularly within the Nigerian context.
Providing an industry perspective, Mr Olugbenga Agboola, the Chief Executive Officer of Flutterwave Technologies spoke on “Artificial Intelligence Tools for Workplace Administration.” He emphasised that AI should not be seen as a replacement for human intelligence but as a powerful tool that enhances productivity. According to him, professionals who learn to work effectively with AI will enjoy greater opportunities and remain competitive in the evolving workplace. He encouraged participants to embrace continuous learning while using AI responsibly and ethically.
The final lecture was delivered by Dr Kenechukwu Sylvanus Anigbogu on “Leveraging Artificial Intelligence for Teaching, Learning and Institutional Administration.” His presentation demonstrated how AI can support personalised learning, intelligent tutoring, automated assessments, plagiarism detection, admissions processes, student support services, financial management, campus security, and overall university administration.
The workshop provided participants with practical knowledge that can immediately improve teaching, learning, research, innovation, and workplace productivity.
Lecturers gained valuable insights into integrating AI into classroom instruction, curriculum development, academic writing, research, grant proposal preparation, assessment, and administrative responsibilities. They were also introduced to AI-powered tools that can improve data analysis, research productivity, and institutional efficiency.
Students explored how AI can support their studies through smarter research, project writing, creativity, innovation, problem-solving, and career development. The sessions also emphasised the responsible and ethical use of AI as an important skill for success in today’s digital economy.
Participants received practical demonstrations of widely used AI platforms, including ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini, Notebook LM, and Canva AI, and learned how these tools can be applied across education, research, administration, and industry.
The successful workshop further demonstrates Nnamdi Azikiwe University’s determination to remain at the forefront of technological advancement in higher education. By investing in AI capacity development for both lecturers and students, the University is strengthening its culture of innovation, promoting research excellence, and preparing graduates with the digital competencies required in an increasingly technology-driven world.
As Artificial Intelligence continues to reshape education and the global workforce, Nnamdi Azikiwe University remains committed to producing graduates, researchers, and professionals who are not only academically excellent but also equipped with the digital skills needed to thrive and make meaningful contributions in the knowledge economy.