Nigerian educators and innovators warn AI overdependence threatens critical thinking more than extinction
Nigerian educators and AI builders say the real threat isn't AI deciding to kill humanity but humans losing essential skills through overreliance. University of Nigeria master's student Elijah Akuma cites a 2026 study showing Nigerian tertiary students now depend on AI for everything from essays to coding, making it 'difficult for them to think any longer' and risking 'thinking degenerate into a pitiable state.' Aniedi Akpan, Head of Careers at Lagos' 16 Plus Schools, agrees: 'If a student routinely asks AI to write the essay or solve the equation without first attempting it, they complete the task while missing the learning.' He stresses students must learn to 'determine whether [AI output] is correct' rather than just finding answers.
Local innovators redirect focus from sci-fi scenarios to immediate governance needs. Abiodun Adetona of Decide AI warns job displacement from AI automation could trigger 'serious political and economic consequences' without alternatives. Kelvin Roman of Daraja AI argues 'responsible stewardship—not the technology itself—will determine our future,' advocating safety checks and ethical guidelines that evolve with AI capabilities. Pius Bankong of Oui Capital compares AI to nuclear energy: impact depends on use, and investors must oversee corporate governance.
Everyday users like Ghana's Sarah Pra and Nigeria's Elijah Akuma use AI daily for cooking help, flyers, and research refinement but remain skeptical of extinction claims. Pra asks: 'Which AI is going to kill us exactly? Is it ChatGPT or Meta AI?' while acknowledging risks like fake nude images and misinformation stem from 'people using the technology to harm' rather than AI autonomy. Akuma sees AI as collaboration: 'It makes suggestions, and I consider them and pick which is relevant.'
The intelligence for Nigerians: Prioritize teaching students to verify AI outputs, build AI systems with access controls, and maintain human judgment in high-stakes decisions—not fear extinction but address dependence, misuse, and governance gaps already affecting education and employment.
SOURCE: https://techcabal.com/2026/09/24/could-ai-threaten-humanity-8-africans-weigh-the-risks/