.As Studyin holds global conference

By Adesina Wahab

Experts in education and technology sectors have emphasised the need for policy makers, administrators, teachers and learners to keep abreast of the changes the use of Artificial Intelligence, AI, is bringing to the education sector and the ways it is changing the careers of people.

They spoke in Lagos at Studyin Global Study Conference 2026 where they also harped on the need to make today’s learners ready for a future that would be distinctly shaped by the use of AI.

In her welcome address, the Country Director,
StudyIn Nigeria, Mary Agbu, opined that those seeking admission to tertiary institutions should note that choosing where and what to study are critical.

Explaining the rationale for the conference, Agbu said, “It is about helping young people understand their options, make informed decisions and prepare for what comes next. That is why we created the StudyIn Global Study Conference. Over the years, the conference has grown into a platform where students can meet universities, hear from people working in different fields, and have conversations about education, careers and the world they are preparing to enter.

“This year’s conference is especially important because the world is changing rapidly. Artificial intelligence is changing how we learn, work and build careers, and students need to understand what this means for their future. Under the theme, “Future Ready: Succeeding in an AI-Driven World,” we will explore these changes through our panels and student-focused sessions.

“We are also pleased to introduce our Future Ready Essay Competition this year, giving Year 11 and Year 12 students the opportunity to engage with the theme and share their own ideas about preparing for an AI-driven world.

“Most importantly, we hope you leave today with a clearer understanding of what is changing, what is possible and what you can begin doing now to prepare for the future,” she stated.

Agbu said the conference was part of StudyIn Nigeria’s broader commitment to providing students, young professionals and families with professional guidance on university and course selection, applications, visa support among others.

“Students today are preparing for a world that is changing faster than ever. AI is already influencing the way we learn, work and build careers, which means students need to think carefully about the education and skills they will need for the future. Through the StudyIn Global Study Conference, we are giving students and parents access to the right information, international institutions,
and expert guidance to help them make informed decisions.”

Agbu added that since 2006, StudyIn has supported more than 1.3 million students globally and operates through a network of more than 100 offices in 42 countries, establishing its position as the best globally experienced higher education consultancy.

The keynote speaker, Dr Lola Olukuewu, who is also a Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer and first female certified AI officer from Copenhagen in Denmark, said Nigerian learners must be future ready as far as AI is concerned.

“AI has been with us for some time. Remember when we were told to be Y2K compliant, now it has come home to roost. It is moving at a pace that we have to keep pace. The world is changing and we need to keep our own learners not to be left behind and that the changes must not meet them unprepared.

“What AI will be in the next 10 years time. 10 years is too far, within the next three to five years, AI will become a full blown co-worker even in Africa and here in Nigeria. So, it is not a competitor alone, but a co-worker for many of our careers. It has changed how things are running. It will be used for end-to-end processes with humans having oversight on what AI will be helping us run. The time to prepare for this reality is now – even yesterday. So, we have to catch them young and let them know on time that the world out there has changed and for them to position themselves for the change,” Olukuewu said.

On curriculum development in Nigeria, she decried the situation and noted, “Ours does not match the reality that AI brings but I am hopeful that with programmes like this, it will pick up and we must be proactive not reactive. Educational systems are changing globally. China is revamping its system and thousands of courses have been expunged. We need awareness and actionable steps to be taken. We need clear next steps with timelines and it must be top down because if we leave it to schools alone it won’t be okay. We must be AI innovators and not only users.”

Also speaking on the sideline of the conference, Adiba Ofungwu, Chief of Staff of Studyin Nigeria, explained, “We want to help students chart their paths of higher education. Some students are not so clear about the opportunities that are available to them such as scholarship, discount or even outright 100 percent scholarship . Some students are not aware of these.The global landscape is different and there is a disconnect between what we have locally and what obtains globally and we have come to bridge that gap.”

As part of the conference, panel sessions were held where experts discussed the need to use AI reasonably and the gains of doing so.

Also, the top 15 in the essay competition were rewarded with prizes.

This is just Okoye Sienu of Lagoon School came first in the essay competition, Tamilore
Macaulay of Dowen College was second and James Sorefunmi also of Lagoon School was third.

They were given prizes such MacBook, iPad, and other exciting prizes.

Representatives of universities from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia etc were also on hand to attend to enquiries from students and parents.