Professor Francis Egbokhare, a former President of the Nigerian Academy of Letters and alumnus of the University of Benin, has dispelled the narrative in some quarters that AI(Artificial Intelligence) is set to replace humans.
He was speaking as the Guest Lecturer at the 50th anniversary of the Faculty of Arts of the University of Benin during the programme held inside the Akin Deko Main Auditorium in the institution’s main campus at Ugbowo, Benin City.
According to him, “the reason the world is the way it’s today is because of the denigration of the humanities. We cannot talk about technology without talking about human beings.”
Going further, he stressed: “To forget the humans themselves who are affected by the technology and to go ahead is actually an evidence to the fact that human civilisation is collapsing.”
Talking about the problem of the misunderstanding about AI, its relationship to man, the relevance of the humanities in an AI era and the relevance of the humanities to human progress generally, Prof. Egbokhare asserted: “When people are producing technology and are telling you that technology is for the sake of progress you should also question the hegemony that’s behind the production and consumption of technology.”
In his comment, the University of Benin’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Edoba Omoregie, who was represented at the occasion by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic, Professor Victor Igbineweka promised to do more legacy projects to uplift the standard of infrastructure in the institution.
Highlight of the epoch occasion was the award of recognition given to some personalities and also musical interlude and cultural displays by students of the Faculty of Arts.
On the list of awardees were Chief (Dr.) Leemon Agbonjagwe Ikpea; Chief Dan Osi Orbih; Senator Neda Imasuen, Senator Representing Edo South Senatorial District; Professor Edoba Bright Omoregie(SAN) Vice Chancellor, University of Benin; Mr. Ademola Bobola Registrar, University of Benin and Professor Austin Stephen Moye.
Others were Professor Edward Oregbheme Erhagbe; Professor Francis Egbokhare, former President of the Nigerian Academy of Letters; Barrister Rockson Akpotiri Igelige; Dr. Don Pedro Obaseki, a film maker and Emeritus Professor Raymond Osemwegie Elaho.
Speaking to reporters on the sideline of the programme one of the awardees, who is an alumnus of the institution, Dr. Don Pedro Obaseki, expressed his appreciation for the recognition that he was given promising that it would spur him to do more.
He disclosed: “For the past few years I have tried to support the University as an alumnus. I also have scholarships for Theatre and Mass Communication students which have ran for about six years now.
“I am the youngest lecturer that the University of Benin had ever employed. I became a lecturer here two weeks before I was 21 years old. I was also the youngest associate professor at the age of 32.”
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