Simple Ways AI Tools Like ChatGPT Are Helping Nigerian Lecturers

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT and Google Forms are becoming increasingly useful to Nigerian lecturers, making their work easier and more efficient in both teaching and research.
This was the focus of the 2025 Lecture Series organised by the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD), Umudike branch, held recently at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU).
Speaking at the event, Professor Mabel Onwuka, a Soil Science expert and the local coordinator of OWSD, stressed that AI should not be seen as a threat but as a support system. “AI is not a threat,” she said. “It’s an opportunity to enhance what we already do.”
For lecturers, tools like ChatGPT are helping to simplify daily tasks. With a well-crafted prompt, they can now generate lecture outlines, summarise complex topics, or even create test questions in just a few minutes. This has made lesson planning quicker and more effective.
Delivering a keynote titled “Leveraging AI for Teaching and Research – Practical and Effective Use of ChatGPT and Google Forms”, Dr. Flora Mukah described AI as a partner in progress. She pointed out that AI can assist with academic writing, data analysis, coding, and even student engagement, provided it is used ethically.
Similarly, Google Forms has proven useful for managing quizzes, collecting feedback, and tracking student attendance — tasks that once took up valuable time but are now completed in a few clicks.
National OWSD Coordinator, Prof. Olayinka Nwachukwu, encouraged more educators to embrace AI tools, noting that their responsible use can drive innovation across the education sector. “How we use AI matters,” she said. “It should be a tool for efficiency, not for shortcuts.”
As internet access improves and digital literacy spreads, more lecturers — especially in public institutions — are beginning to adopt these tools to improve their teaching and research outcomes.
One academic put it simply: “AI hasn’t taken over my job. It has just made it easier to focus on what really matters — teaching and mentoring students.”