The President of the Accra Institute of Technology (AIT), Professor Clement K. Dzidonu, has called for a fundamental shift in how individuals, educational institutions, and society approach learning in the age of Artificial Intelligence (AI). He advocates for what he calls the Sovereign Lifelong Learner, or “Sovereign Triple-L” — an individual who takes personal responsibility for continually renewing, deepening and extending their capabilities throughout their professional and personal life.
Professor Dzidonu argues that the traditional model in which people complete formal education, graduate, enter a profession and rely for years on knowledge acquired at university is becoming increasingly unsustainable. He says graduation should no longer be viewed as the end of a person’s learning journey but as the beginning of a continuous process of developing new skills and capabilities. This is because AI, emerging technologies, changing professional practices and the reinvention of industries are rapidly transforming both the nature of work and the capabilities required to remain relevant.
According to Professor Dzidonu, university qualifications remain important as recognition of what an individual has achieved at a particular point, but they cannot guarantee that the knowledge and capabilities acquired will remain sufficient throughout a person’s career. He therefore urges individuals to focus not only on accumulating knowledge but on transforming their evolving skills, expertise, experience, knowledge and know-how into professional capabilities that enable them to solve problems, exercise judgement, adapt, innovate, collaborate and create value.
Professor Dzidonu described an individual’s skills, expertise, experience, knowledge and know-how collectively as SEEK. He said the rapid pace of technological change is creating what he calls the SEEK-Gap — the changing distance between the capabilities individuals currently possess and those increasingly required to remain effective and relevant. This, he argues, creates a paradox: “The More You Know, the Less You Know.”
Professor Dzidonu explained that becoming a Sovereign Triple-L does not mean surrendering human judgement to AI. Rather, individuals should learn with AI, question it, challenge it and use it responsibly while strengthening their own capacity to think, create, exercise judgement and adapt. At the centre of his proposition is what he calls the Opportunity-Possibility-Difference (OPD) Perspective, which involves recognising opportunities for learning, identifying new skills and capabilities, and applying them to solve problems and create value.
The AIT President’s message is not one of fear or passive dependence on technology but of continuous learning, capability development and personal growth. He urged people not to view AI merely as a threat to the knowledge and skills they already possess. Instead, they should ask themselves how they will use AI, technology, experience, reflection and continuous learning to keep renewing what they know and what they are capable of doing.
Professor Dzidonu’s concept extends beyond university graduates to students, professionals, entrepreneurs, educators, business leaders and institutions seeking to remain relevant in a rapidly changing world. He stressed that what made an individual capable yesterday may not necessarily be sufficient tomorrow, and urged individuals to take ownership of continuing learning, rather than simply accumulating certificates or waiting for employers to provide training.
Key points
- AIT President Prof Clement Dzidonu advocates for lifelong learning in the age of AI.
- He proposes the concept of the Sovereign Lifelong Learner, or “Sovereign Triple-L”.
- Dzidonu urges individuals to take personal responsibility for continually renewing their skills and capabilities.
