Students from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) and Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) have emerged winners of the National Tertiary Institution Essay Competition on AI Literacy and Responsible Technology Use, carting away a combined prize of ₦900,000.
The competition, organised by the Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative (BBYDI), climaxed during a grand finale held in Ilorin, Kwara State, where students, academics, policymakers and technology advocates gathered to discuss the future of artificial intelligence and responsible innovation in Nigeria.
The initiative was organised under BBYDI’s AI Literacy for Everyday People in Nigeria Project with support from the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation.
Over 1,400 Students Participated
Speaking at the event, BBYDI Executive Director, Nurah Jimoh-Sanni, said the competition was created to encourage young Nigerians to think critically about the opportunities and risks associated with emerging technologies.
According to her, the competition received 1,423 essay submissions from students across 549 tertiary institutions in all 37 states of the federation.
She explained that the entries were later reduced to the top 100 before a five-member panel of judges selected 12 finalists comprising four female and eight male students for the final stage.
“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, warned against the excessive dependence on artificial intelligence tools among students.
“Technology should support human thinking, not replace it,” she added.
FUNAAB Student Emerges Overall Winner
At the end of the competition, Adeniji Yusuf Joseph of FUNAAB emerged overall winner and received the ₦400,000 grand prize.
Speaking after receiving the award, Joseph said artificial intelligence should complement human creativity rather than replace it.
“Artificial intelligence should be seen as a tool to improve human capacity, not replace human creativity or critical thinking. I am honoured to be recognised on a platform that encourages young people to think deeply about these issues,” he said.
The second prize of ₦300,000 went to Enoch Aremu of LAUTECH, while Deniran El-Caleb Obanijesu of OAU secured the third position with ₦200,000.
Aremu noted that innovation must be guided by ethics and social responsibility.
“We must ensure that innovation does not come at the expense of ethics, inclusion, and human welfare. Competitions like this help students understand that responsible governance must remain central to technological advancement,” he said.
Obanijesu described the initiative as an important platform for youth participation in discussions around technology and governance.
“Young people are not just users of technology; we must also contribute to shaping how these technologies affect society. That is why initiatives promoting AI literacy are very important,” he said.
Judges Commend Finalists’ Ethical Awareness
The final stage of the competition featured an oratory session where finalists defended their ideas before judges drawn from academia, media, law and the technology sector.
Members of the panel included AbdulLateef Lanre Ahmed, Hassanat Bello, Oluwabunmi Lucy Niyi-Gafar, Nurah Jimoh-Sanni and Olasupo Abideen.
Announcing the winners, Abideen praised the finalists for demonstrating 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.
The event also featured poetry and drama performances, networking sessions and award presentations to finalists.
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