Students’ ideas will shape Nigeria’s AI future – JCI Aso

The President of Junior Chamber International (JCI) Aso 2026, Peter Emanuel Yildim, has urged Nigerian students to embrace artificial intelligence (AI) responsibly, saying the ideas of young people will play a crucial role in shaping the country’s digital future.

Yildim spoke on Thursday in Abuja during the JCI Aso Secondary School Debate Competition, which brought together students from 13 secondary schools to discuss the theme, “Balancing the Benefits and Risks of Artificial Intelligence.”

He encouraged students not to view AI as a threat but as a transformative tool capable of improving businesses, education and everyday life if deployed responsibly.

“My advice for students generally is to embrace AI, leverage its great qualities and be part of shaping the future of AI and what we do with it,” he said.

According to him, JCI Aso organised the debate to prepare young people who would eventually become leaders in managing the opportunities and challenges associated with emerging technologies.

“It has been a very enlightening event. We targeted secondary school students because we believe they will shape the future of AI, manage its risks and maximise its enormous potential,” Yildim added.

Chairperson of the 2026 JCI Aso Secondary School Debate Committee, Olusola Alexander, challenged the participants to speak boldly and think critically, stressing that the future of Nigeria could be shaped by ideas generated by young people.

“We want your voices to be heard because the idea that will shape Nigeria’s future may very well come from this very room,” she said.

Alexander noted that while AI is already transforming education, healthcare and business, it also poses serious concerns relating to privacy, misinformation and ethics.

“The challenge for your generation is not whether AI will change the world; it already is. The real question is whether you will lead that change with wisdom, integrity and compassion,” she told the students.

She further urged Nigerian youths to remain resilient despite prevailing economic challenges, emphasising that AI had come to stay and that society must ensure its benefits outweigh its risks.

Also speaking, Director of Public Enlightenment and Education Department and spokesperson, Mr Demola Bakare, fsi, warned students against using artificial intelligence for corruption, fraud and other criminal activities.

He urged the younger generation to reject every form of unethical application of AI and embrace technology for national development.

“We need them to reject corruption in its entirety. We need them to reject the criminal and fraudulent use of artificial intelligence and resist every attempt to abuse the technology,” Bakare said.

Delivering the keynote address, Acting Head of Department, McGregor Lawrence University, Abuja, Vivian Chiwen Nnamdi, advised students to use AI strictly for the benefit of humanity.

She warned against deploying artificial intelligence to spread false information, create panic or inflict harm on others.

“AI is here to stay. Young people should engage with it ethically and continue to improve themselves as the technology continues to advance,” she said.

Federal Government Boys College emerged overall winner of the competition, while Esther Amarachi clinched the Best Speaker Award.

Expressing his excitement after receiving the trophy, a representative of the winning school, Nicholas Lawrence, described the competition as memorable and advised students to remain determined in pursuing excellence.

“We are very happy with this victory. Everybody is a winner, but your effort and determination make the difference,” he said.

Best Speaker, Esther Amarachi, said the debate had broadened her understanding of artificial intelligence and its responsible use.

“The future is AI and technology. Students should learn how to use it and be equipped. Competitions like this should continue so that future generations will understand how to use AI responsibly,” she said.