By Praise Chinecherem
Presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP) in 2023 general elections, Mr Peter Obi has called for ethical application of Artificial Intelligence to serve humanity responsibly.
Obi spoke on Wednesday at an international conference organised by Faculty of Mass Communication in celebration of Prof. Chinyere Okunna.
The conference held at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Auditorium, focused on the transformative impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Obi, represented by his Media Adviser, Mr. Valentine Obienyem called for robust regulatory frameworks to ensure AI’s responsible use, urging that technological progress should be balanced with positive societal impact.
“AI must be harnessed to serve humanity responsibly. While AI’s presence in society is inevitable, its development should be steered towards enhancing lives, particularly in essential fields such as communication, healthcare, education, and human advancement,” he said.
Advocating for a “humanising” approach, Obi, former governor of Anambra State stressed the importance of AI’s ethical application, respect for privacy, and alignment with societal values.
Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh described Okunna as a “transitional being,” remarking that her career and influence transcend easy categorisation.
“Okunna is a transitional being; you cannot plot her on a graph. For those who may not know, Prof. Okunna served as the Chief of Staff to the then Governor Peter Obi, Commissioner for Economic Planning, and head of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) office.
“She handled these three major roles seamlessly. Under her leadership, Anambra State achieved first place in the MDG rankings, with evidence of the programme’s success scattered across the state.”
Traditional ruler of Igbakwu, Igwe Prof. Onuorah Nwuneli shared powerful insights into Okunna’s pioneering achievements.
“She is not only Nigeria’s first female professor of Mass Communication but also the first in Sub-Saharan Africa across Anglophone and Francophone regions,” he said.
Recalling his role in assessing her for professorship, the monarch spoke of her brilliance and resilience, describing her as “the sister his mother never had.”
Representative of UNIZIK VC, Prof. Philomena Igbokwe, spoke about how she once chaired an event for Prof. Akachi Ezigbo.
She marvelled at how one family could produce two outstanding personalities.
She described how, as far back as 1998, Prof. Okunna, as Head of Department, was a source of inspiration and encouragement to young female lecturers.
Earlier, Head of the Department of Mass Communication, Prof. Allen Adum explained how Okunna’s mentorship shaped his academic journey.
“I am here today as a professor because Prof. Okunna lifted me up,” he remarked, recalling her encouragement decades ago.
Other esteemed academics, including Prof. Philomena Igbokwe, the Vice-Chancellor’s representative, highlighted Prof. Okunna’s leadership as an inspiring force for young female lecturers since the late 1990s.
Prof. Umar Pate, while illuminating Okunna’s legacy, hailed her as an institution in her own right, calling her “a symbol of womanhood in Nigeria.”
Lauding her contributions to academic progress, Pate noted how Okunna worked with him to clear longstanding MSc and PhD backlogs at UNIZIK.
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