Artificial intelligence should strengthen human thinking, not replace it, organisers of a national essay competition have told students at a grand finale held in Ilorin, Kwara State.
The event brought together students, academics, policymakers and tech advocates from across Nigeria, under an initiative organised by the Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative (BBYDI) to promote AI literacy and responsible technology use.
Three students shared a total of ₦900,000 after emerging from a nationwide contest that drew entries from tertiary institutions across the country.
The competition was held under the theme, “Artificial Intelligence for Public Good: Balancing Innovation, Human Welfare, and Responsible Governance,” focusing on ethics, innovation and the social impact of emerging technologies.
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Speaking at the event, the Executive Director of BBYDI, Nurah Jimoh-Sanni, said the initiative was designed to encourage young people to think critically about both the benefits and risks of artificial intelligence.
She disclosed that the competition received 1,423 essay submissions from students in 549 tertiary institutions spread across the 37 states of the federation.
According to her, the entries were later reduced to the top 100 before a panel of expert judges selected 12 finalists for the grand finale in Ilorin.
“The response we received reflects the curiosity, intellectual engagement, and readiness of young Nigerians to participate meaningfully in conversations that will shape the country’s digital future,” she said.
Jimoh-Sanni, however, expressed concern over “growing dependence on AI-generated content among students”, warning that technology must not replace human reasoning.
“Technology should support human thinking, not replace it. We have to stress the importance of ethical awareness, originality and critical thinking in the use of artificial intelligence tools”, she noted.
The final stage of the contest featured oral presentations by the finalists before a panel comprising experts from academia, media, law and technology sectors.
Announcing the winners, Olasupo Abideen said the finalists displayed strong originality, ethical reasoning and deep understanding of the implications of artificial intelligence.
“The quality of ideas presented by these young Nigerians shows that the future of responsible technology use in the country is promising.
“What we assessed was not merely eloquence or technical knowledge, but originality of thought, ethical reasoning, and the ability to engage complex issues thoughtfully”, he said.
At the end of the competition, Adeniji Yusuf Joseph of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta emerged overall winner and received ₦400,000.
Reacting to his victory, Adeniji said artificial intelligence should be used to strengthen human capacity rather than replace creativity and independent thinking.
“Artificial intelligence should be seen as a tool to improve human capacity, not replace human creativity or critical thinking,” he said.
The second position went to Enoch Aremu of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, who received ₦300,000.
Aremu said the competition pushed participants to examine the social and ethical consequences of technological advancement beyond the excitement surrounding AI innovation.
“We must ensure that innovation does not come at the expense of ethics, inclusion, and human welfare,” he said.
Also, Deniran El-Caleb Obanijesu of Obafemi Awolowo University clinched the third prize of ₦200,000.
Obanijesu described the initiative as an important platform for youth participation in conversations around technology policy and governance.
“Young people are not just users of technology; we must also contribute to shaping how these technologies affect society,” he said.
The event also featured drama performances, poetry presentations, networking sessions and award presentations to finalists.
BBYDI said the competition was organised under its AI Literacy for Everyday People in Nigeria Project with support from the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation.
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