What did the association say?
The Association of Private Educators in Nigeria (APEN) says artificial intelligence cannot replace teachers or schools, because human connection stays at the centre of education. The Punch reported on 16 October 2026 (journalist Wale Akinselure) on a press conference held in Lagos ahead of APEN's 2026 Education Conference. The conference is themed "Human First: Leading with AI" and is scheduled for 2 and 3 November at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Bolanle Adewole, chair of the conference planning committee, said that AI should be seen as an opportunity to improve education, not as a threat, and that "AI can never replace the teachers". She argued that teachers bring emotional connection, support for students' mental health, patience, kindness and care.
Where could AI help teachers, according to the speakers?
- Preparing lesson notes and developing curricula.
- Writing reports and assessing students' work faster, which leaves more time to work directly with learners.
- Reducing workload and the feeling of being overwhelmed. Dr Olufemi Ogunsanya, the association's founding chair of trustees, mentioned help with structuring notes and even grading.
Adewole also said she still meets many teachers who feel negative about AI. She urged them not to resist it but to learn to use it responsibly, rethinking their job and upgrading the way they teach.
Why does the association want its own AI platform?
According to the report, APEN is exploring a platform of its own, with information and educational resources tailored to Nigerian schools and students. Adewole's concern is relevance: AI answers can reflect environments elsewhere, and she gave the example of information about winter conditions, which would mean little to Nigerian students.
Who is the conference for?
APEN's acting chair, Dr Abimbola Ogundere, said the event is designed for parents, teachers, school leaders and school owners, with keynote talks, general sessions and breakout sessions for each group. Organisers expect at least 360 delegates and 650 participants, with registrations from about 14 or 15 states. APEN's board chair, Lai Koiki, said the association was set up to support school founders in managing their institutions, recruiting suitable teachers and providing professional development.
What can a school head take from this?
These five points are our own general suggestions, not statements from the report:
- Decide what AI is for before teachers improvise. Drafting lesson notes is not the same as deciding a student's mark.
- The teacher stays responsible. If AI helps draft a report or a test, the teacher checks it and signs it.
- Check local relevance. Examples, language and curriculum in an AI answer may not match your syllabus or your pupils' daily life.
- Train rather than ignore. Staff who feel negative about AI usually use it anyway, or are left behind. A short, practical session helps more than a ban.
- Protect pupils' data. Do not paste names, marks or other identifiable information about pupils into a public AI tool.
Source
Source: The Punch, "AI cannot replace teachers – APEN", by Wale Akinselure, 16 October 2026. This article is our own summary of that report. ClassMata has not independently verified it, and the statements belong to the people quoted in the original.