The Bayelsa State Government on Wednesday expressed its determination to deploy Artificial Intelligence (AI) towards developing its education sector.
The Commissioner for Education in Bayelsa, Dr Gentle Emelah, made the expression at a training programme for ICT teachers in Yenagoa.
Emelah said that given the strategic importance of AI, Bayelsa state could not afford to take a back seat in its adoption for education sector growth.
Emelah said at the programme organised by the Bayelsa Education Development Trust Fund (BEDTF), that technology must be harnessed to ensure a better quality of life for the people.
“I urged you to utilise the knowledge from this exercise to deepen your understanding about the use of technology for teaching and learning.
“You are expected to pass the knowledge to your students, they need this knowledge to explore opportunities that lie ahead,” he said.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary, BEDTF, Dr Alice Atuwo, described AI as “a revolution that is changing the way humans live, work and interact with the world around them”
“The concept of AI is no longer futuristic, it is here with us, it is aiding transformation in industries, economies and societies.
“The evidence of self-driven cars and robots serving in hospitality industries abound. This is the world we now live in” she said.
She said that issues such as climate change and perennial flooding being experienced in Bayelsa could be addressed with the proper utilisation of AI.
“In BEDTF, we are happy to have introduced coding, robotics and AI in our schools. It is our hope that our students will fully embrace it.
“We expect them to improve themselves and deploy the knowledge gained to solve problems in the society,” she said.
The acting Board Chairman, of BEDTF, Prof Francis Sikoki, commended the state education ministry for always collaborating with the fund in the interest of education development.
He urged the participants to work towards utilising extant technological tools to boost teaching and learning.
NAN
