A regional workshop on Open Education Resources (OER) Practices in the age of Artificial intelligence (AI) begins in Abuja on Tuesday to ascertain new opportunities, possible risks, and emerging good practice that Al introduces to the creation, curation, and sharing of OER.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Vice Chancellor of National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Prof. Olufemi Peters called for preservation and promotion of African knowledge in the era of AI-enhanced open education.
Prof. Peters, who was represented at the occasion by the Vice Chancellor Academics, Professor Chiedu Mafiana, noted that the outcomes of the third UNESCO World OER Congress, which was held in 2024, highlighted the potential of AI to revolutionise development of digital resources by creating, adapting, and sharing.
He also underscores the critical need to safeguard cultural and ideological diversity.
“The outcomes of the third UNESCO World OER Congress, which was held in 2024. Highlighted the potential of AI to revolutionise development of digital resources. By creating, adapting, and sharing.
It also underscores the critical need to safeguard cultural and ideological diversity. Ensuring that African knowledge systems are preserved and promoted in the era of AI-enhanced open education”.
“Here at the National Open University of Nigeria.
And through the directorate of the University of Trinidad, partnership with four members of them. To recognise the transformative potential of AI to enrich OER development. At the same time, we remain committed to ensuring that these innovations serve our international community”, he said.
He charged the participants to use the next two days in engaging in critical conversations and hands-on sessions, designed to identify emerging regional practices in AI-enriched OER.
Strengthening institutional and international processes. Share successful interventions and experiences. And co-create sustainable, cultural, grounded frameworks for the future of open education.
“To the participants from our various countries and institutions here present, I commend you for your dedication to this collective mission. Your commitment reflects growing momentum across Africa to position open educational resources and AI at the forefront of educational innovation. I encourage you to use the workshop not only to learn, but to collaborate, network, and build partnerships that could endure beyond these two days”, he added.
Earlier in her welcome remarks,
Adviser, Higher Education, Commonwealth of Learning (COL), Vancouver, Canada
Professor Jane-Frances Agbu, disclosed that the Regional Workshop on Open Educational Resources (OER) Practices in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (AI) was facilitated by the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) in collaboration with the Regional Training and Research Institute for Distance and Open Learning (RETRIDOL).
She explained that over these two days, the purpose is to
examine the status of OER processes in the region;
ascertain new opportunities, possible risks, and emerging good practice that Al introduces to the creation, curation, and sharing of OER;
It is also to highlight success stories, key lessons, and practical models from institutional, national, and sub-regional OER efforts;
strengthen professional skills for thoughtful, critical use of AI-OER tools and platforms; and consider the ethical, cultural, and pedagogical dimensions of Al and openness, so that African knowledge systems, values, and languages remain central and respected in open education.
The workshop drawn partners from across six (6) Commonwealth West African countries of Togo, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Ghana, The Gambia, and Cameroon
