The Exploring AI capacity building programs in Nigerian higher education institutions: A study of curriculum design, faculty competence, and student engagement

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming education globally, necessitating the integration of AI capacity-building programs in higher education institutions. This study explored the state of AI capacity building programs in Nigerian higher education institutions, focusing on curriculum design, faculty competence, and student engagement. A descriptive survey research design was adopted, and data were collected using a structured four-point Likert scale questionnaire. The population of the study comprised 79,668 staff from federal and state universities in Nigeria. the sample size for the study consisted of 7,967 staff from selected universities in Nigeria. A structured questionnaire duly validated with reliability index of 0.80 was used for data collection. Data analysis was conducted using mean and standard deviation, with a criterion mean of 2.50 for decision-making. Findings revealed that AI curriculum integration is moderate, with limited interdisciplinary adoption and infrequent periodic reviews. Faculty members demonstrated low AI competence due to inadequate training and expertise, while student engagement in AI learning was moderate, characterized by active participation in AI projects but restricted access to AI research opportunities. The major challenges hindering AI education included insufficient funding, inadequate faculty expertise, and a lack of AI infrastructure. The study recommended increased funding, faculty training, interdisciplinary AI curriculum development, enhanced student research opportunities, industry partnerships, and regular curriculum reviews. These measures will help improve AI education in Nigerian universities and enhance the country’s competitiveness in the global AI landscape.