AI and Social Media Misuse Fueling Academic Decline, Say Nigerian Educationists

In Abuja on Thursday, education professionals voiced concerns about the negative impact of Artificial Intelligence and social media abuse on students’ academic performance in Nigeria. While acknowledging the positive potential of these technologies, they warned that their misuse is eroding educational quality.

Sadiq Mohammed, Associate Professor at the Federal University of Technology, Minna, linked social media to increased examination malpractice. “Many students go to magic centres to write their examinations… pre-answered scripts will be passed around in exams halls,” he explained. He expressed worry that students who initially gain university admission with excellent results often fail to maintain academic standards.

Mohammed also highlighted how AI encourages laziness among students, who now rely on phone apps to complete exams. “With the coming of AI, most students now relax, they spend more time on their phones, using different applications to write examination,” he said, urging government action to curb this trend.

Retired principal Judy Eke criticized parents for enabling exam fraud by funding their children’s dishonest practices online. “Parents too are helping to spoil the children by giving them money to go and register for examinations in faraway villages,” she said.

Teacher Adebayo Olawole pointed out that social media, while providing learning opportunities, distracts students and promotes misinformation and cybercrime. “Students spend up to four hours online yet struggle to commit 30 minutes to their books,” he observed, calling for regulation and a return to textbook-based learning.

The experts called for urgent reforms to restore academic discipline and integrity in Nigerian schools and universities.