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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Nigeria stands ready to spearhead artificial intelligence innovation worldwide, experts asserted at a recent landmark workshop on data-driven school governance and AI integration.
Over 200 education leaders from federal and state ministries, examination bodies, school administrators, and teachers gathered in person and online at the NOI Polls Building in Abuja.
Organised by the Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership in partnership with the U.S. Embassy, the Applied Leadership Workshop—“Data and AI for School Administration: From Records to Results in Nigeria’s Education System”—zeroed in on using robust data and AI to boost accountability, streamline management, and lift learning outcomes.
A computer scientist, AI strategist, and Founder/CEO of Fimio, Omoju Miller, in his keynote address, highlighted Nigeria’s edge.
“Nigeria’s global diaspora network and demographic strength represent a strategic advantage in building an AI-driven innovation economy,” she said. “While AI adoption is inevitable, national competitiveness will depend on building the capacity to lead, not merely participate.”
Echoing the call for foundational reforms, Founder of the Centre for Teaching and Learning Academy, Agodi Alagbe, stressed data as the real hurdle. “Nigeria’s education challenge is not AI; it is data,” she declared.
“Quality, structured and measurable data must inform reform at all levels. Good data governance precedes digitisation.” Alagbe pointed to persistent issues like inconsistent enrolment figures, teacher deployment data, learning outcomes, and infrastructure records as roadblocks to smart policymaking.
From the government side, Ogun State’s Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Abayomi Arigbabu, who joined virtually to showcase his state’s shift from paper records to digital tools like Education Management Information Systems (EMIS), Student Management Systems (SMS), and Learning Management Systems (LMS). Citing Ogun’s DiPER initiative, he proved digital upgrades work even in resource-scarce settings with strong policy and discipline, according to a statement by Media and Communications Officer
Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership, Paul Liam.
Director of the Athena Centre, Chidima Chidoka, who moderated the session, warned that AI amplifies existing strengths. “Artificial intelligence strengthens governance only where strong systems already exist,” she noted.
Participants completing assessments earned certificates, while their institutions received tailored AI Preparedness and Data Governance Assessment Reports to pinpoint gaps and map next steps.
The event aligns with Athena Centre’s push for evidence-based policy, with attendees uniting on better data architecture as the path to an AI-ready education system.
The Athena Centre thanked the U.S. Embassy for its partnership in fostering grounded innovation.
