Nigerian educators are turning to artificial intelligence (AI) to ease the burden of planning courses, generating learning materials, and supporting students outside of class. The shift is driven by increasing time demands and the challenge of reaching learners beyond traditional classrooms. Educators like Idris Abba, a chartered accountant and lecturer at Abuja's Santuval Academy, are finding AI solutions to be a game-changer. Abba's academy has started using Distinction AI, an education technology platform developed by Distinction Labs, a subsidiary of Nigerian education technology company FlexiSAF Edusoft Limited.
The use of AI in education is gaining traction in Nigeria, with educators like Abba using platforms like Distinction AI to create online courses and teaching materials. The platform allows users to generate and manage course content, such as lecture slides and videos, as well as assignments and exams. It also enables instructors to provide their courses to students online, including through paid courses. According to Abba, the platform has significantly reduced the time required to develop teaching materials, from three days to just a couple of minutes.
The adoption of AI in education is not limited to Nigeria, with a UNESCO poll from 2025 revealing that about two-thirds of higher education institutions either had guidance on AI or were developing it. The use of AI in education has the potential to assist in more personalized learning approaches, according to Umar Adam Ibrahim, a computer scientist, AI researcher, and lecturer at Nigeria's Nile University. Ibrahim believes that AI can help lecturers allocate more time to research, student engagement, and mentorship.
Distinction AI was developed from an internal challenge at FlexiSAF, where employees were spending a significant amount of time developing courses and training materials for new hires. The team later looked into how the same method could be utilized to help educators and students outside of the company. Hamid Bashir, product manager at Distinction Labs, leads the development of Distinction AI. The platform has the potential to assist educators in creating high-quality learning materials and providing personalized learning experiences for students.
The use of AI in education has the potential to revolutionize the way educators teach and students learn. With AI, educators can create customized learning plans, automate grading, and provide instant feedback to students. According to Abba, the transformation has been less about replacing teaching and more about figuring out how to handle some of the work surrounding it. His experience reflects a challenge faced by many lecturers who have to balance teaching with preparing course materials, setting and marking assessments, research, and student engagement.
The development of Distinction AI is part of a growing trend of education technology innovation in Nigeria. FlexiSAF Edusoft Limited, the parent company of Distinction Labs, delivers end-to-end education solutions for schools and institutions. The company's goal is to improve access to quality education through technology. With the increasing demand for AI-powered education solutions, it is likely that more educators and institutions will adopt platforms like Distinction AI.
As the use of AI in education continues to grow, it is essential to address the challenges and limitations associated with its adoption. Educators and institutions must ensure that AI-powered solutions are integrated in a way that complements traditional teaching methods and enhances the learning experience. With the right approach, AI has the potential to transform the education sector in Nigeria and beyond, providing more accessible, personalized, and effective learning experiences for students.
Key points
- Nigerian educators are leveraging AI to streamline course planning, generate learning materials, and support students.
- The use of AI in education has the potential to assist in more personalized learning approaches.
- Distinction AI, an education technology platform, is being used by educators in Nigeria to create online courses and teaching materials.
