How To Harness Gains Of AI For Devt, By Olaopa
The Chairman, Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), Prof. Tunji Olaopa, has proposed measures that governments could deploy in order to harness the gains of Artificial Intelligence ( AI) for development.
Federal Civil Service Commission Chairman, Prof. Tunji Olaopa, has suggested ways for governments to leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) for development. Addressing a stakeholders' dinner on "Media And Information Literacy, AI And Youth Creativity" at UNESCO's 2026 Global Media and Information Literacy (GMIL) Week, Olaopa emphasized that understanding Media & Information Literacy (MIL) is crucial for the effective use of AI tools.
He pointed out that educational models promoting source evaluation, fact-checking, AI literacy, and integration facilitate responsible use of generative AI, empowering youth creativity, ethical content creation, and innovative problem-solving. By incorporating generative AI tools into literacy curricula, Olaopa believes younger learners can benefit from reduced cognitive load, making complex research and information synthesis more accessible.
He highlighted that MIL equips youth to identify automated text or graphics, set strict boundaries, cross-examine outputs, and counter hidden AI biases. Olaopa called for a reworked educational system to align with contemporary technological reality, reviewing policy frameworks to integrate data literacy and AI ethics into mainstream school systems.
He also stressed the establishment of institutional hubs, such as academic libraries and community media networks, to provide basic AI literacy for marginalized youth and bridge the infrastructural gap. While AI and modern media have expanded opportunities for youth creativity, workplaces, and democratized information, Olaopa warned of their potential negative implications for humanity.
He referenced Stephen Hawking's 2015 open letter, which expressed concern about the risks of AI, particularly a military artificial intelligence arms race, as the biggest existential threat to humanity. Olaopa stressed the necessity of Media & Information Literacy (MIL) to help humanity navigate the technological reality of the modern world and ensure the responsible use of AI.
Written by urgent.news from This Day's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
