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AI: What Remains Distinctive About the University? — Ex-BUK VC Rasheed
AI: What Remains Distinctive About the University? — Ex-BUK VC Rasheed
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Former Vice-Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano (BUK), Prof Abubakar Adamu Rasheed, has challenged universities to rethink their role in the age of artificial intelligence, warning that technological advancement must not come at the expense of human thinking and intellectual independence.
KANO FOCUS reports that Rasheed spoke while delivering a keynote address at the 41st Annual Conference and Diamond Jubilee of the English Scholars’ Association of Nigeria (ESAN), held at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
The conference was themed “Rethinking Identity in Language, Literary and Communication Studies in the Digital Age.”
Speaking on “AI, Universities and Responsibility,” Rasheed, who is also a former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), said the rapid advancement of AI had raised fundamental questions about the distinctive role of universities.
He asked: “If machines can retrieve information, summarise books, translate languages and produce essays, what remains distinctive about the university?”
According to him, education has never been merely about access to information.
“Knowledge requires interpretation. Evidence requires judgement. Information is not wisdom,” he said.
Rasheed argued that the abundance of information could make universities more necessary rather than less relevant, as society would increasingly require people capable of evaluating information, interpreting evidence and exercising sound judgement.
He said the educational challenge was shifting from finding information to judging its reliability, from producing text to evaluating meaning, and from obtaining answers to learning how to ask worthwhile questions.
The former BUK vice-chancellor urged universities to neither reject AI nor surrender to it, but to pursue responsible engagement with the technology.
He called for digital literacy, artificial intelligence and emerging technologies to be incorporated into university curricula while preserving the intellectual foundations of scholarship.
“Above all, we must remember: competence in prompting cannot substitute for competence in thinking,” he said.
Rasheed identified the gradual surrender of intellectual agency as perhaps the greatest educational danger posed by generative AI, saying the concern went beyond plagiarism.
He argued that AI was making English and communication studies even more consequential because machines were increasingly generating language and algorithms were shaping the narratives people consume.
“When machines generate language, the study of language becomes consequential. When algorithms circulate narratives, questions of representation become more urgent,” he said.
He added that the rise of synthetic media was making it increasingly difficult to distinguish evidence from fabrication, thereby making critical interpretation a civic necessity.
“When information becomes abundant, judgment becomes precious,” Rasheed stressed.
He said the central challenge was no longer simply whether artificial intelligence would become more powerful, noting that “it almost certainly will.”
Rather, he said, the decisive question was what human beings would choose to do with the capabilities of machines.
“The decisive question is not simply what machines can do, but what human beings will choose to do with what machines can do,” he said.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Political allies and loyalists of former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Arc Aminu Dabo, have begun resigning from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State following his withdrawal from the ruling party.
KANO FOCUS reports that the supporters, operating under the political group Dabo Alheri Ne, reportedly include members across Kano State’s 44 local government areas.
Barely two days after Dabo announced his resignation from the APC, a prominent stakeholder of the group, Garba Zakiru Dambatta, said members had welcomed the decision and were showing solidarity by submitting their resignation letters to their respective ward party chairmen.
Dambatta, a former APC chairman in Dambatta Local Government Area, said the group’s members were disappointed with what they described as the prolonged marginalisation of Mr Dabo and his supporters within the party.
According to him, despite Mr Dabo’s contributions to the APC and efforts to strengthen the party and manage disagreements among its members, some key stakeholders had continued to sideline him and his loyalists in party activities.
Dambatta reaffirmed the group’s commitment to standing by Mr Dabo’s political decisions and supporting his future political journey.
He also urged the former NPA managing director not to succumb to political pressure or reverse his decision to leave the party.
“This step you have taken, we have the conviction that it is the beginning of a new chapter of goodness in your life,” Dambatta said.
Among the prominent members of the group identified as supporting Mr Dabo’s decision are Abba Rabee’u, a former Senior Special Assistant on Political Awareness; Almustapha Jilani Danmalam, a former Senior Special Assistant on Education; Jamilu Abdullahi Zangon-Mata, a former Senior Special Assistant on Entrepreneurship; and Fahd A. Dabo, a former Special Assistant on Youth Mobilisation.
The individuals reportedly served during the second term of former Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
The group also said several other party loyalists and supporters were backing Dabo following his resignation.
However, the statement did not provide the number of members who had formally resigned from the APC or indicate whether the party leadership had responded to the development.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Five players of Kano Pillars Amputee Football Club have been invited to the national camp of Nigeria’s Special Super Eagles ahead of the 2026 Amputee Football World Cup in Mexico.
KANO FOCUS reports that invited players are Isah Yusuf, Abba Musa, Habu Friday, Emanuel Betel and Usman Ahmed. They are currently in Abuja with the national team as preparations intensify for the global tournament.
The Team Manager of Kano Pillars Amputee Football Team, Jamilu Uba Adamu, disclosed this in an interview with Ashiru Rabiu Gidan Tudu, Information Officer of the Kano State Sports Commission.
Adamu described the invitation as recognition of the players’ dedication, discipline and outstanding performances.
He expressed confidence that the players would represent Kano State and Nigeria with honour at the championship.
According to him, the call-up also demonstrates Kano Pillars’ commitment to nurturing talented amputee footballers and contributing to the development of the sport in Nigeria.
The 2026 Amputee Football World Cup is scheduled to take place from November 13 to 22 in San Juan de los Lagos, Mexico. A total of 24 countries, including seven African nations, are expected to participate.
The Executive Chairman of the Kano State Sports Commission, Muhammad Tukur Babangida, congratulated the five players on their invitation, describing it as well deserved.
Babangida expressed confidence that they would justify the confidence reposed in them by the national team selectors.
He assured the players of the commission’s continued support and urged them to remain focused, disciplined and committed to making Kano State and Nigeria proud on the international stage.
Ibrahim Khalil
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State, Aminu Dabo, has resigned as the party’s caucus chairman in Dambatta Local Government Area and withdrawn his membership of the ruling party.
KANO FOCUS reports that Dabo, a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), announced his resignation in a letter dated October 7, 2026, addressed to the APC chairman of Dambatta Gabas Ward.
In the letter, personally signed by him, Dabo said he took the decision after careful consideration of personal reasons and his future endeavours.
He confirmed his resignation during a telephone conversation from Abuja on Wednesday, saying he had formally submitted the letter to the appropriate party officials in Dambatta for necessary action.
“I remain grateful for the cordial relationship I enjoyed and appreciative of the experience gained during my time of service,” he said.
The former NPA managing director also thanked the party’s leadership for the opportunity and confidence reposed in him to contribute to its development and progress during his membership.
“I sincerely appreciate the support and opportunity I have received from the party leadership,” he added.
A statement issued by Abdullahi Othman, Media and Publicity Aide to Dabo Dabo, said the former NPA MD did not disclose further details about his reasons for leaving the APC in the resignation letter.
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