Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
The indispensability of Human Intelligence in the drive towards exploring the full potential of Artificial Intelligence was part of thoughts shared by resource persons at the 2nd Biennial Memorial Symposium of the Oye Ibidapo-Obe Foundation for Educational Transformation.
Held on Friday, January 5, 2024 with the theme, “Moving the World beyond Big Data”, the event is in memory of the Eighth (8th) Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Late Emeritus Professor Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe. It was a gathering of dignitaries within and beyond the academia who all converged from far and near to honour and celebrate the sterling legacies and success stories of the Late Emeritus Professor Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe as an astute administrator, a seasoned academic, a teacher of teacher and a positive influencer.
The keynote address was delivered by a Professor of Systems Engineering and the Dean, Graduate School of Engineering and Management at the United States Airforce Institute of Technology, Dayton, Ohio, USA, Professor Deji Badiru.
Titled: Beyond the Hype of Big Data and Artificial Intelligence: Human Intelligence in the Integrated System, Professor Badiru used the avenue to shower glowing tributes on the Late Emeritus Professor Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe, describing him as an epitome of excellence all through his earthly sojourn.
Speaking on the theme of the occasion, the Nigerian Professor debunked assumptions that Artificial Intelligence (AI) will take over human systems. He noted that human intelligence determines the extent of AI and its deployment.
While emphasizing the place of human capital and competencies, Prof Badiru also underscored the indispensability of socio-economic considerations as determined by Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs in AI development and deployment.
The keynote speaker highlighted some of the challenges of AI which makes it no match for human intelligence, and suggested a well-thought-out process that would ensure that AI models are carefully designed, evaluated, justified and integrated into the practical operating environment through human communication, cooperation and coordination.
In his remarks, Chairman of the occasion, Emeritus Professor Olayide Abass expressed reservation over the abysmally low digitization of data despite its abundance and the poor rate of digital awareness and compliance globally as revealed through research during the COVID-19 global pandemic.
The retired Professor of Computer Science advocated the enactment of laws and review of existing regulations which would further secure cyber engagements and grow competencies thereby propelling Nigeria into a fully digitized economy.
In her remarks to welcome the gathering, the Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos, Professor Folasade Ogunsola OON, FAS, showered encomia on the Late Emeritus Professor Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe for recognizing early, the importance of technological integration in education and the implementation of technological solutions for teaching research and administrative processes. She noted this feat birthed the establishment of the UNILAG Centre for Information Technology and Systems in 2005.
Prof. Ogunsola said UNILAG has continued to improve its competencies and capacity in the area of big data and its applications such as machine learning and artificial intelligence. She hinged this on the vision of past Vice-Chancellors and the seamless continuity between administrations.
While appreciating the Oye Ibidapo-Obe Foundation for Educational Transformation led by the Executive Director, Mrs. Olusola Ibidapo-Obe for the commitment to the legacies of the Late Emeritus Professor Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe, the Vice-Chancellor also expressed the readiness of the university management to work with alumni, private sector and friends of the university in ensuring that the over 60,000 UNILAG students are digitally and technologically enabled to be competitive, nationally and globally.
Resource persons at the symposium included former Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission(NUC), Professor Peter Okebukola; Head, Department of Computer Science, UNILAG, Professor Adetunji Adewole; Chairman, Chams (Nigeria) Limited, Sir Demola Aladekomo and Co-Founder, Bluechip Technologies, Olumide Soyombo. The C.E.O, Nigeria Diaspora Commission, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa who was also at the event, read the Citation of Late Emeritus Professor Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe.
Born on Tuesday, July 5, 1949, Late Emeritus Professor Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe was an epitome of all-round excellence having become a professor of Applied Mathematics and Systems Engineering in 1983 at the age of 34. He was Vice-Chancellor of UNILAG between 2000 and 2007, the first alumnus to have served in such capacity and the longest-serving Vice-Chancellor in UNILAG’s history.
He breathed his last on Sunday, January 3, 2021, due to COVID-19 complications.
Source: UNILAG
