Nigeria’s Education Minister of State joins UNESCO roundtable on AI in education

Education, Innovation & Technology, Technology

PARIS, France (NPA) — Nigeria’s Minister of State for Education, Dr Suwaiba Said Ahmad, has participated in a UNESCO ministerial roundtable on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Education as part of the Digital Learning Week 2026 in Paris.

The minister joined representatives from 25 countries at the session, which focused on the opportunities and challenges associated with the use of AI in education.

Ahmad said Nigeria’s experience with AI in education was not theoretical, noting that while some Nigerian learners use AI regularly, others still lack reliable access to devices and internet connectivity.

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She said policies and initiatives must therefore help bridge the digital divide rather than widen it.

“For Nigeria, this conversation is not a distant or theoretical one. Some Nigerian learners can use AI every day, while others still lack a reliable device or internet connection, so any solution we build has to close that gap rather than widen it,” she said.

The minister said Nigeria’s National AI Strategy and Nigeria Data Protection Act provide a foundation for developing responsible AI systems in the education sector.

She also highlighted the AskFME initiative and the Naija Teacher AI pilot, which she said had already onboarded 50,000 Nigerian teachers onto tools designed for mobile and offline use.

According to Ahmad, these initiatives are helping to translate national policies into practical safeguards for classrooms.

She stressed that every AI tool used in Nigerian classrooms must be assessed for accuracy, curriculum alignment, age suitability and data protection.

“Our responsibility does not end there. Teachers and learners must be able to report problems, and any tool that keeps failing them must be corrected or withdrawn,” she said.

The minister added that AI should complement teachers rather than replace critical thinking and curiosity among learners.

“In Nigeria, a child who is unsure will always look to the teacher, and we want our children to gain from AI while staying curious and asking questions of their own,” Ahmad said.