Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, has said Artificial Intelligence and other emerging technologies will not replace teachers but will enhance their effectiveness and improve learning outcomes in schools.
Mbah stated this on Tuesday while speaking at the 59th National Conference of Delegates of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, held in Enugu.
The governor said the theme of the conference, “Deployment of Technology and Artificial Intelligence in Education Will Erode the Place of Teachers in the Classroom: Myth or Reality?”, was timely, considering the rapid transformation being driven by artificial intelligence.
He urged teachers and education stakeholders not to view AI as a threat to employment, but as a tool that can improve productivity, innovation and effectiveness in the education sector.
According to him, AI can support teachers with lesson preparation, personalised learning, identification of learning gaps and expanded access to knowledge.
Mbah, however, stressed that technology cannot replace the human qualities that define the teaching profession, including the ability to inspire, mentor, understand individual circumstances, build character and motivate students.
He said the future of education should not be about teachers competing with technology, but about teachers using technology to improve their work.
The governor also called for appropriate safeguards to ensure that the use of AI in education remains ethical and beneficial to both teachers and learners.
He identified ethical standards, data protection, responsible regulation and continuous capacity-building for teachers as critical measures necessary for the responsible adoption of AI in schools.
Mbah said teachers should not become victims of technological advancement but should instead be positioned as principal beneficiaries and drivers of the transformation.
Speaking on his administration’s education policies, the governor said his government had, since inception, regarded education as a transformative instrument and had invested in school infrastructure, technology, curriculum innovation, as well as teachers’ capacity and welfare.
He disclosed that the state government had recruited 6,850 teachers and other education personnel to address shortages and improve the student-teacher ratio.
Mbah further said education had received 33 per cent of the 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.
He also highlighted the establishment of fully equipped, technology-driven Smart Green Schools across the state’s 260 wards as part of efforts to prepare children for the demands of the future.
The governor maintained that a world-class education system could not be achieved without a well-equipped, motivated and adequately supported teaching workforce.
He commended the Governor of Kebbi State, Mohammed Nasir Idris, for his contributions to the teaching profession and also praised the NUT National Executive Council for convening the conference.
Mbah equally commended the Registrar of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, Dr. Ronke Shoyombo, and her management team for their efforts towards promoting dignity, pride and professionalism in the teaching profession.
