The increasing disruption of various professions by artificial intelligence has sparked concerns about the relevance of Nigeria's educational curriculum. With AI rapidly evolving, many are questioning whether the current system adequately prepares young Nigerians for the changing nature of work. The worries are not limited to the length of time required to study certain courses, but also the attendant costs. As a result, there is a growing debate about the value of education in a world where AI is becoming increasingly prevalent.
The traditional view of education as vocational training for a specific profession is being challenged. Instead, there is a growing emphasis on developing transferable capabilities such as reasoning, research, communication, analytical thinking, discipline, and intellectual curiosity. These skills can remain relevant even when particular jobs or industries change. However, there are concerns that Nigerian universities may still be rewarding rote learning and examination performance rather than cultivating these capabilities.
The rise of AI is also changing the value of knowledge itself. With access to information becoming easier and faster, what becomes increasingly valuable is knowing what questions to ask, being able to assess the quality of an answer, applying context, exercising judgement, and recognising when something does not make sense. This is particularly important because AI can be confidently wrong. Therefore, it is essential to educate young Nigerians to navigate a world where the jobs themselves may change.
A university education should provide a foundation from which a person can continue to learn, rather than a narrow qualification that becomes obsolete when the nature of a particular job changes. For instance, a lawyer who moves into the entertainment industry can still apply their legal training to negotiate contracts, structure transactions, understand intellectual property, and manage risk. Similarly, an engineer who moves into the fitness industry may approach the human body differently because of their understanding of systems and how different components interact.
The future may not belong to those with the “right” degree, but to those who are curious enough to keep learning, adaptable enough to keep changing, and discerning enough to know when human judgement matters most. AI will undoubtedly erode many routine tasks, particularly those involving repetitive processes and predictable outputs. However, this does not necessarily mean that entire professions will disappear. It may simply change the composition of work within those professions.
When advising young people about their future, it is essential to be careful not to respond to technological disruption by directing them towards whichever profession is currently considered “safe”. There may be no such thing as a permanently safe profession. Instead, the focus should be on developing capabilities that will enable young people to remain useful and adaptable as the world changes.
The story of a young person who loves drawing but is being pushed towards studying law highlights the need for a rethink of Nigeria's educational curriculum. Rather than discouraging them from studying law or insisting that they pursue art instead, the focus should be on developing their curiosity, adaptability, and judgement. By doing so, they will be better equipped to navigate a world where AI is increasingly prevalent and the nature of work is rapidly changing.
Key points
- The rise of AI is changing the value of education and the nature of work in Nigeria.
- There is a growing emphasis on developing transferable capabilities such as reasoning, research, and analytical thinking.
- The future may belong to those who are curious enough to keep learning, adaptable enough to keep changing, and discerning enough to know when human judgement matters most.
