INCLUSIVE AND EQUITABLE QUALITY EDUCATION IN THE 21ST CENTURY: NECESSITY FOR DIGITAL INNOVATIONS IN NIGERIAN HIGHER EDUCATION

Abstract

In every society, the fundamental of inclusive and equitable quality education cannot be exaggerated. The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in higher education has emerged as a transformative approach to addressing various educational challenges. This study is therefore examining the potential of Artificial Intelligence tools in the higher education in the 21st century focusing on goal 4 of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). The study is a position paper. The contents discussed under the following sub-headings: inclusive and equitable quality education in Nigerian education, the concept of artificial intelligence (AI), goal 4 of united nations sustainable development goals, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) for inclusive and equitable quality education, challenges of AI in higher education and government roles for sustaining expansion of digital innovations in Nigerian higher education. Theoretical framework adopted were Institutional Theory (IT) by Selznick (1949) and The Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) Theory by Everett Rogers in 1962. The suggestions were made that there is need to adoption AI as teaching strategy in our tertiary institutions especially, to cope with the various challenges which may hinder the physical classroom teaching, there is need for the Ministry of Education to organize conferences, seminars and workshops for both teachers and the students on the effectiveness of AI in education and the governments should assist in providing enabling environment for the effectively implementing the AI strategies in our tertiary institutions.