The Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Peters Nwagor, has unveiled the Centre for Artificial Intelligence at the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), characterizing it as a significant milestone toward equipping students and the facility for the requirements of a tech-focused future.
Nwagor spoke on Tuesday at the university’s principal auditorium in Port Harcourt during the launch of the Ignatius Ajuru Centre for Artificial Intelligence (IACAI) and the release of a volume detailing the institution’s technological evolution over the last ten years.
The commissioner, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Dr. Mina Tele Ikuru, congratulated the university’s management, Governing Council, Senate, staff and students on the twin achievements.
He said the occasion went beyond opening a new centre and unveiling a publication, describing it as evidence of IAUE’s commitment to innovation and its determination to remain relevant in an increasingly digital world.
Nwagor noted that artificial intelligence was already changing different sectors, including education, where it could support personalised learning, intelligent tutoring, research, data analysis and digital administration.
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He, however, urged the university to ensure that technology remains a tool for improving education rather than replacing the human element.
“AI must assist the teacher, not replace the teacher. It must expand access and improve learning outcomes while safeguarding critical thinking, creativity, academic integrity and human values,” he said.
The commissioner also challenged the new centre to promote research across different disciplines and build partnerships with government agencies, industries and technology organisations.
He commended IAUE for documenting its digital journey in the book titled Ignatius Ajuru University of Education Legacy: Information Technology, Automation and Digitization Milestone, 2015–2025 (10 Years) — A Model for the Nigerian University System.
According to him, the publication captures the university’s transition from largely manual operations to automated and digitised systems following the National Universities Commission’s digitisation policy introduced in 2015.
Nwagor also reaffirmed the Rivers State Government’s commitment to strengthening education, technology, research and human capital development under Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Earlier, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Chief Chinyere Emmanuel Igwe, described the event as the result of a shared vision and collaboration.
He said a university should not only prepare students for the future but also play an active role in shaping that future.
Igwe said the university would use the AI centre to promote personalised learning and broaden access to education, while equipping graduates with artificial intelligence skills that would make them competitive in the labour market.
“We want our graduates to become employers of choice rather than job seekers,” he said.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Okechuku Onuchuku, said artificial intelligence was already being applied to solve problems, automate tasks and improve decision-making across sectors.
He listed healthcare, education, business, transportation, finance, agriculture, communication, entertainment and manufacturing among areas benefiting from AI applications.
The newly launched facility is anticipated to function as a hub for research, instruction, innovation, and the acquisition of AI-related competencies among scholars and academic staff.
The volume unveiled at the gathering was penned by Professor Okechuku Onuchuku and Mr. Emmanuel Aburuotu, featuring contributions from the institution’s ICT department, the Acting Director of IACAI, Dr. Igulu Kingsley Theophilus, the text reviewer, and additional co-authors.
