By Taiwo Babatunde
In a landmark move advancing digital education and responsible AI development, the Government of Cross River State in Nigeria has formally adopted the AI Global Manual as the exclusive curriculum for its 2025 State-Wide AI Literacy Campaign.
This initiative, launched in partnership with leading academic institutions and coordinated by the Office of the Special Assistant to the Governor on Student Affairs, Mr Enyam Joseph-Kelvin, marks a significant milestone in regional AI education and public sector digital capacity building.
The AI Global Manual, authored in the United Kingdom by Uchenna Victor Moses alongside co-authors Olajuwon Yakub, Rukayat Balogun, Timothy Olatunji, Chrysanthus Chiagwah, and Njubigbo Ugochukwu, and introduced with a foreword by IEEE Senior Member and international AI researcher Professor Celestine Iwendi, serves as a comprehensive guide for responsible, scalable AI development.
Each contributor brought subject matter expertise and regional insights that ensured the manual’s practical accessibility and global relevance.
More than 500 students across institutions including the University of Cross River State, Federal College of Education Obudu, University of Calabar, and the College of Health Technology Calabar have benefited from structured, in-person training sessions.
These sessions emphasized responsible AI use, ethical innovation, and digital skill-building, utilizing the manual as the sole instructional material. Complementing the physical campaign, the programme was broadcast live on Sparkling 92.3 FM Calabar reaching over 1.2 million listeners in Cross River and Akwa Ibom States and featured on Cross River State Television (CRTV), extending public engagement and fostering widespread community awareness.
At the campaign’s culminating event held at the College of Health Technology Calabar, government officials and academic leaders praised the initiative’s timely and strategic contribution to digital education. The Provost, Elder Dr Itah Ikpeme, described it as an essential educational tool, while Barrister Ekpenyong Akiba, Special Adviser to the Governor on General Duties, highlighted its role in equipping students with practical digital competencies. Senior Special Assistant on Political Affairs, Mr Dunamis Acheibong, speaking on behalf of the Chief of Staff, underscored AI’s importance in preparing students for national and global opportunities.
The Students’ Union President, Ogbe Smauke Erin, formally expressed gratitude to the government for advancing responsible technology awareness among youth.
Confirming the State Government’s commitment to this digital literacy drive, Mr Enyam Joseph-Kelvin announced ongoing collaboration with the manual’s authors and Professor Iwendi to expand its reach across educational and public platforms. The government also plans to present Awards of Excellence in Digital Technology and AI Literacy later this year to honor the manual and its creators for their outstanding contributions.
Internationally, the manual has garnered academic recognition, including public commendation from Professor Ian Stewart, Professor of Political Practice at the University of Greater Manchester, who lauded the initiative’s transformative impact.
Currently, the AI Global Manual continues to see growing adoption across education networks and public awareness campaigns in Europe, the United States, and sub-Saharan Africa, confirming its status as a vital tool in shaping inclusive, transparent, and accountable AI development worldwide.
This official endorsement and broad-based usage demonstrate the manual’s critical role in empowering regions with emerging AI ecosystems, advancing digital skills, and fostering responsible innovation.