By Folayimika Akanbi
A student of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Adeniji Yusuf Joseph, has returned home with a cash prize of N400,000 following his emergence as the winner of the National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Literacy Essay Competition held in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.
Joseph was pronounced winner at the grand finale of the National Tertiary Institution Essay Competition on AI Literacy and Responsible Technology Use, which a nongovernmental organization, Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative (BBYDI) convened.
The competition was organized under BBYDI’s AI Literacy for Everyday People in Nigeria Project with support from the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation.
While Enoch Aremu of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology clinched the second prize of N300,000, Deniran El-Caleb Obanijesu of Obafemi Awolowo University picked the third prize of N200,000 in the contest that had 12 finalists that cut across tertiary institutions in the country.
The 12 finalists comprised four female students and eight male students who advanced to the grand finale in Ilorin.
Wind Gate News reports that the grand finale afforded the finalists time to make presentation both physically and virtually on how they rationalize the topic given to them for the competition.
Adeniji, who spoke after receiving the cash prize, described the competition as an opportunity for students to rethink how AI should be used responsibly.
He said, “Artificial intelligence should be seen as a tool to improve human capacity, not replace human creativity or critical thinking. I am honoured to be recognised on a platform that encourages young people to think deeply about these issues.”
Aremu, who emerged second, said the competition challenged participants to move beyond excitement about AI and focus on its social implications.
He said, “We must ensure that innovation does not come at the expense of ethics, inclusion, and human welfare. Competitions like this help students understand that responsible governance must remain central to technological advancement.”
The Executive Director of BBYDI, Nurah Jimoh-Sanni, in her remarks at the event, said the initiative was designed to encourage young Nigerians to think critically about the opportunities and challenges associated with emerging technologies.
She disclosed that the competition received 1,423 essay submissions from students across 549 tertiary institutions in all 37 states of the federation, demonstrating increasing youth interest in conversations around artificial intelligence, ethics, governance, and digital responsibility.
Jimoh-Sanni explained that after the first review stage, the entries were pruned to the top 100 essays, which were subsequently assessed by a five-member panel of experts.
“The response we received reflects the curiosity, intellectual engagement, and readiness of young Nigerians to participate meaningfully in conversations that will shape the country’s digital future,” Ms Jimoh-Sanni said.
She added that while many essays demonstrated originality and critical reflection, the competition also revealed concerns about overdependence on AI-generated content among students.
“Technology should support human thinking, not replace it,” she said, stressing the need for ethical awareness, critical thinking, and responsible engagement with AI tools.
The final stage of the competition featured an oratory session where the top finalists presented and defended their ideas before a distinguished panel of judges drawn from academia, media, law, and technology.
The panel included AbdulLateef ‘Lanre Ahmed, Hassanat Bello, Oluwabunmi Lucy Niyi-Gafar, Nurah Jimoh-Sanni, and Olasupo Abideen.
Announcing the winners on behalf of the judges, Abideen said the finalists demonstrated exceptional depth, originality, and understanding of the ethical implications of artificial intelligence.
He added, “The quality of ideas presented by these young Nigerians shows that the future of responsible technology use in the country is promising. What we assessed was not merely eloquence or technical knowledge, but originality of thought, ethical reasoning, and the ability to engage complex issues thoughtfully.”
The competition, held under the theme, “Artificial Intelligence for Public Good: Balancing Innovation, Human Welfare, and Responsible Governance,” spotlighted growing conversations around ethical artificial intelligence, digital literacy, and responsible technology use among Nigerian youths
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