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Distinguished historian and public intellectual Prof. Toyin Falola has called for a paradigm shift in knowledge delivery methodology and vision in tertiary institutions following the fast-growing influence of Artificial Intelligence on academia and global learning.
Falola made the remarks while delivering the Babcock University valedictory lecture titled *The Transformation of Babcock*, held at the university’s main campus in Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, as part of a week-long transition programme for the outgoing Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ademola Tayo.
According to him, the influence of AI and the shorter attention spans of Gen Z and Gen Alpha, as well as other external forces, call for a more proactive, friendship-driven teaching approach to replace authoritarian methods in knowledge delivery.
“AI is reshaping how knowledge is accessed,” he said. “More than 90% of what you want to teach is already available through AI, and the shorter attention spans of Gen Z and Gen Alpha demand a new, proactive, friendship-driven approach to teaching rather than the old authoritarian model.”
His lecture traced Babcock’s journey from its humble beginnings to its present status as a hybrid, globally oriented institution. To underscore his point, Falola referenced statistics from his newly released book, *The Transformation of Babcock*, a work based on interviews with over a thousand alumni, faculty and community members.
“I worked on this book in secret,” he revealed. “It is a story of the journey, the setbacks, and the university’s relentless pursuit of excellence – the trailblazers whose dreams and visions made it become what it is today.”
The lecture highlighted five legacies that the incoming President/Vice-Chancellor-elect, Prof. Olutunde Afolarin Ojewole, inherits: academic expansion, medical excellence, full accreditation and quality assurance, global affiliation, and pedagogic innovation.
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At the same time, Falola warned of pressing challenges such as economic volatility, rising energy costs, frequent power outages and fierce competition from other tertiary providers.
To meet these obstacles, he urged the university to secure a US$200 million endowment, strengthen its alumni association, and launch a Babcock University Institute of Innovation.
The don also called for initiatives in cultural diplomacy, sustainability, and continued dialogue between faith and science.
The lecture also provided a platform for Prof. Falola to present the outgoing Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Tayo, with the Thabo Mbeki Award for Leadership Excellence, on behalf of the University of Texas at Austin and with the approval of former South African President Thabo Mbeki.
The award recognises a leader “committed to the renaissance of Africa and an unblemished record of excellence in leadership.”
Additionally, His Imperial Majesty, Prof. Fuankem Achankeng I, Paramount Ruler of the Atoabechied Kingdom, Cameroon and John McNaughton Rosebush University Professor, USA, conferred upon Prof. Tayo the revered title Nkem MiaAkateh in recognition of his skilful governance and leadership.
Prof. Falola concluded with a direct appeal to the university community: “We must move from authoritarian teaching to a model that values relationships, critical thinking and ethical formation. That is the path to sustaining Babcock’s legacy and shaping the future of Nigeria’s higher education.”
