Babcock Unlocks AI Potential as Varsity Unveils N1.5b ICT Centre

Babcock University said there is huge potential in the deployment of artificial intelligence in academics and across sectors, especially now that the world is going digital.

Babcock University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ademola Tayo, noted that universities are going digital and the need to equip both staff and students to be on top of the digital revolution going on in the world, including AI, machine learning, Internet of Things (IoT), has become more pressing now than before.

Tayo stated this when the varsity got a new N1.5 billion ICT centre from New Horizons as part of efforts to celebrate the 23rd Convocation ceremony of the varsity in Ilishan Remo, Ogun State.

The VC noted that currently, it is not just the cognitive knowledge alone, “but what you can use your hand combined with your brain to do that matters now. Because of the digital revolution in the world today, we feel it is high time for us to ensure that the university community is fully ready to contribute to the digital revolution and ICT.”

According to him, the varsity will not relent in adding any latest development in the world that will be required for the students to be relevant in the 21st Century.

He disclosed that New Horizons donated the project 100 per cent, including building, computers and other facilities, saying the building is fully equipped, innovation and incubation centres are embedded, which will make the students top notch in the areas of technology.

“It is a good thing. Computer literacy is what drives every other profession. In Medicine, there is telemedicine, law, we have IT and even languages; they have IT in them. This will give our students a competitive edge in the labour market because they will not just be knowledgeable about their areas of discipline, but also about other fields. ICT is everywhere now, even in fashion, humanities, among others,” Tayo stated.

Speaking, the Chief Executive Officer, Tim Akano, said the centre is a N1.5 billion 2,000-seat modern AI Resource Empowerment Centre.

“We all know that the whole world is moving toward Artificial Intelligence, and we want to lead in that space. This is why we have taken our time to put the resources in place. It is not the building alone; we are also commissioning the resources inside the building. We brought in 300 all-in-one customised systems. Each of the systems costs about a million Naira.

He said that AI had been involved in all spheres of human endeavour.

“There is AI in medicine now. There is a robot doctor. There is AI in law. There is a robot lawyer. There is AI in pharmacy. There are AI warehouses that can pack all those things people buy on Alibaba and Amazon, so there is an AI component in everything we are doing now. There is an AI pilot. There are AI driverless cars,” he said.

Akano said that any nation or any civilisation missing out on the AI revolution would be at the background of history.

He said that New Horizons Nigeria had partnerships with six institutions, including Babcock University, Bowen University and Redeemer’s University.