Revamp universities, stop approving new ones, Okoh tells Tinubu

The former Primate of the Church of Nigeria in Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, and the Head of the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Ibadan (UI), Prof. Olumuyiwa Olusesan Familusi, have urged President Bola Tinubu to rescue, revive and revamp public universities rather than approve new ones.

The duo made the call during the opening ceremony of the 2025 Department of Religious Studies’ conference in honour of Primate Okoh, which took place at Trenchard Hall of the university. The conference themed ”Religion, Artificial Intelligence and Migration’.’

During his remarks about the country’s current state, Okoh implored Tinubu to lift Nigerian universities out of their dire circumstances, noting that many Nigerian students are being forced to seek education abroad due to substandard conditions at home.

He said, “We pray that things improve. If places like these are ignored our future is in danger.

“Education should be given priorities. Other countries that have developed never treated education as optional. If I meet President Bola Tinubu today, what I will tell him is to make our universities centres of excellence, and not just all this approval they are giving left, right, and centre; there are too many.

“We have no facilities to absorb them thereafter. So, they should select centres of excellence, where our children can go to without escaping into institutions abroad. We can do it. Look at how this American man is disgracing us. If we build our own, will he be talking like that?”

The HOD, Familusi, also bemoaned the fact that the Academic Staff Union of Universities [ASUU] went on strike because of the poor condition of public universities and stated that the president should restructure, revitalise, and save the education sector.

The HOD said: “There is much infrastructure in our university in our universities. It is one of the reasons ASUU goes on strike continuously. So, in that case, if the government cannot do it all, let well-meaning Nigerians come to our rescue. The president should revamp, revive and rescue the education sector’.”

Speaking on the conference and the awards, Prof. Familusi said: ”The department holds the conference biennially, which has become a ritual. This year, we are interrogating the intersection of religion, artificial intelligence, and migration. If you look at the three variables, man is at the centre.

“Man is involved in religion. Man uses artificial intelligence. Man migrates in any form. Every religion itself is a form of migration.

”They were given distinguished alumni and distinguished honorary fellows. Two of them, the former primate and Bishop Odedeji, graduated from this department. Others were given distinguished honorary fellow of the department of Religious Studies in recognition of their services to God and humanity.”

Prof. Francis Egbokhare was the keynote speaker on the role of artificial intelligence in religion. According to Egbokhare, ”every tool has its effects on human biology and psychology.

“There is the cognitive diminishment that can arise when human beings become lazy, no longer apply their brains, and when we outsource thinking.

“And then, there are also the problems that will arise when AI now replaces the pastors, because you have the capacity now to create AI agents that can serve the role of the pastor and counselor. That is where the risk is.”

Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor [Administration], Prof. Peter Olapegba, said the conference was to bridge the gap between the town and the gown and share ideas that would improve living.

The awardees included Primate Okoh, the Most Rev. Joseph Akinfenwa, Dr. Humphrey Olumakaiye [postposthumously], Dr. James Odedeji, Rev. Samson Ajetomobi, Dr Gomba Fortune Oyor [posthumously], and Evangelist Annah Afolabi.

Okoh, who responded on behalf of other awardees, assured the Head of the Department that they would do their best to support the department. He expressed gratitude and happiness for the honour bestowed on him and others.