The Vice-Chancellor, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Prof. Olufemi Peters, has inaugurated a 15-member committee with the mandate of producing Artificial Intelligence (AI) generated content for further consideration in the university.
The committee, chaired by the new Deputy Vice-chancellor, Administration, Prof. Shehu Adamu, will have four weeks to complete its assignment.
The Vice-Chancellor, while inaugurating the committee on Wednesday, September 3, 2025 at the NOUN headquarters in Abuja, reminded them that their work, if found beneficial, will be the first step expected to herald a "move to a more university-wide consideration of the deployment of AI in our content development."
He said the formation of the committee, with the theme: "Advancing Excellence and Innovation in Open and Distance Education," was borne out of both global necessity and institutional aspiration.
According to him, NOUN should not be left behind in this front, as the report of an earlier committee on AI, chaired by the Dean, Faculty of Education, Prof. B. Ogunleye, was expected to guide this committee's work.
Peters explained that "For generations, Open and Distance Learning has served as a transformative vehicle of mass education opportunities as we ourselves have learnt in our university.
"We have shown its extending educational opportunities beyond traditional boundaries and fostering the intellectual and digital growth of learners irrespective of location or circumstances.
"ODL has moved from the age-long corresponding method of delivery to an era that is being characterised by rapid technological evolution."
The VC charged them to show "a firm commitment to ethical leadership," stressing that the deployment of the AI must enhance human capability without compromising the dignity or privacy of individuals and institutions.
"We must establish transparent policies and robust safeguards, thereby earning and maintaining the trust bestowed upon us by our learners and the larger society," he added.
He said NOUN is not alone in this endeavour, saying that local and foreign institutions are equally regurgitating similar innovative solutions.
Peters, therefore, stated that if this "tentative move" works out well, the university will be positioned to forge domestic and international collaborations for the exchange of ideas and development of best practices.
As such, the Vice-chancellor explained, NOUN's initiative is tailored to the unique context and needs of the university and its learners.
Responding, Prof. Adamu, the chairman of the committee, commended the Vice-chancellor for his foresight, which continues to place NOUN ahead of others.
He said NOUN is fortunate that it already has an existing AI Policy, which is a clear signal that NOUN will not be a passive consumer of AI but an active player.
The chairman assured that their work will be the foundation for subsequent AI related things to be built upon, stressing that the committee's readiness to be guided by and work with the ethics.
The DVC hoped that as universities, home and abroad, continue to come to NOUN on how to use technology in education, they'll soon be coming to learn how to use AI in education ethically.
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