Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, has said artificial intelligence will transform the teaching profession rather than replace teachers, urging educators to embrace emerging technologies as tools for improving learning outcomes….
Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, has said artificial intelligence will transform the teaching profession rather than replace teachers, urging educators to embrace emerging technologies as tools for improving learning outcomes.
Mbah said AI could help teachers personalise learning, prepare lessons, identify gaps in students’ knowledge and widen access to information, but could not replicate the human qualities required to educate and mentor children.
The governor spoke on Tuesday at the 59th National Conference of Delegates of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in Enugu, held under the theme, “Deployment of Technology and Artificial Intelligence in Education Will Erode the Place of Teachers in the Classroom: Myth or Reality?”
He said resisting AI would be counterproductive, comparing its growing influence to the impact of the steam engine during the Industrial Revolution.
“AI can assist the teacher. It can personalise learning, support lesson preparation, identify learning gaps and expand access to knowledge.
“But it cannot replace the human qualities that make a teacher a teacher – the ability to inspire, to mentor, to understand a child’s individual circumstances, to build character and to kindle ambition.
“The future is therefore not teacher versus technology. The future is teacher with technology.”
Mbah called for safeguards to ensure AI is deployed ethically and responsibly in schools, identifying data protection, regulation, ethical standards and continuous teacher training as essential components of the transition.
He said teachers should not become victims of technological advancement but should be positioned as “principal beneficiaries and drivers” of the transformation.
According to the governor, adequate safeguards and capacity-building would help replace fears surrounding AI with informed confidence and responsible adoption.
Mbah also highlighted his administration’s investment in education, saying the state had recruited 6,850 teachers and other education personnel in the last 40 months to address manpower shortages and improve the student-teacher ratio.
He said education had received 33 per cent of Enugu State’s total budget across three budget cycles under his administration, which he said was above the 15 to 20 per cent benchmark recommended by UNESCO.
The governor also cited the establishment of fully equipped, technology-driven Smart Green Schools across the state’s 260 wards as part of efforts to prepare pupils for a technology-driven future.
He said the investments reflected the administration’s belief that a world-class education system could not be achieved without a well-equipped and motivated teaching workforce.
Mbah commended the NUT National Executive Council for convening the conference and praised Kebbi State Governor Mohammed Nasir Idris for his contributions to the teaching profession.
He also commended the Registrar of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, Dr Ronke Shoyombo, and her management team for their efforts to promote professionalism and restore dignity to the teaching profession.
What You Should Know
In simple terms, this report regarding Mbah: AI Will Transform Teaching, Not Replace Teachers highlights key developments that may impact citizens and stakeholders. On the positive side, constructive action and policy clarity can bring convenience, accountability, and opportunities for the public. On the other hand, any implementation delays, added costs, or operational disruptions could pose challenges for everyday people and affected sectors.
