“AI Must Be Ethical”: Redeemer’s VC Wants Research to Tackle Insecurity

The Vice-Chancellor of Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Prof. Shadrach Akindele, has charged scholars with developing ethical artificial intelligence solutions to address Nigeria’s development challenges, including insecurity, energy shortages and environmental degradation.

He said postgraduate students will increasingly use AI tools in their research, but that use must remain within acceptable ethical boundaries.

A Call for Responsible Innovation

ValidViewNetwork gathered that the Vice-Chancellor of Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Prof. Shadrach Akindele, has said the use of artificial intelligence in research must be within ethical boundaries.

Akindele, who disclosed this on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at the opening session of the 2026 edition of the Postgraduate Biennial Conference of the university, tasked scholars with developing relevant data and ethical artificial intelligence solutions capable of addressing Nigeria’s development challenges.

The Role of AI in Research

The VC, while speaking on the theme of the conference, “AI and Sustainable Development: Collaborative Solutions for Global Challenges,” advised scholars to learn how to use AI, adapt to it, and apply it responsibly to their work.

“Artificial Intelligence is no longer a distant concept; it is here, and it is here to stay. We must learn it, adapt to it and apply it responsibly to the work before us. Postgraduate students will increasingly use AI tools in their research, but that use must remain within acceptable ethical boundaries,” he said.

Research for Transformation

He charged universities to come up with solutions to the myriad challenges confronting the country, saying research must go beyond producing journals and should lead to policies and innovations that can transform society.

“Universities are entrusted with asking difficult questions, challenging assumptions and proposing solutions to government, industries and communities. The problems of insecurity, energy shortages and environmental degradation remain urgent in our society. We must not stop working towards solutions to these challenges. Research must go beyond producing journals and lead to policies and innovations that can transform society,” he said.

A Collaborative Approach

Akindele noted that collaboration among various stakeholders across different disciplines remained central to sustainable development, adding that no discipline or institution could independently provide all the answers required to solve global and local problems.

Nigeria’s AI Challenge

The keynote speaker, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, who was represented by Prof. Muyiwa Omobowale, said Nigeria must embrace AI and ensure its use in responding to the country’s realities.

Omobowale, however, noted that Nigeria needed relevant local data that would make AI useful to the people while keeping innovations coming from the country globally relevant.

“For AI to be sustainable, there must be access to quality data and collaboration among academics, students, the private sector and government. Sound policies are also needed to ensure that Artificial Intelligence is deployed ethically and responsibly for the good of humanity,” Omobowale said.

A Lesson for Nigeria

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The call for ethical AI is a reminder that technology is a tool, and like any tool, it can be used for good or ill.

The same innovators who develop AI solutions must also be guided by ethical principles. The same leaders who celebrate technological progress must also ensure that it serves the common good.

For Nigeria, the lesson is clear: innovation without ethics is a dangerous path. The same people who rush to embrace AI must also be willing to establish the safeguards that protect citizens.

Demand ethical AI. Support responsible innovation. And never forget that technology should serve humanity, not the other way around.