Experts Call For Greater Participation By Educationists, As Africa Seeks Bigger Tech Role
African communication scholars and experts have called for greater participation by the continent in shaping the future of artificial intelligence (AI), as its use expands across education, research and communication.
The call was made on Thursday, August 27, 2026, during the 16th East Africa Communication Association (EACA) Conference held at St. Paul’s University.
The conference brought together academics, researchers, educators, and communication professionals to discuss the growing use of AI and the challenges associated with its adoption.
Addressing the conference, EACA president, Professor Margaret Jjuuko of Uganda said African countries should move beyond being consumers of technology and become active participants in shaping technological developments.
“Artificial Intelligence is here to stay. Going forward, Africa must learn how to contribute to the global technological space, rather than remaining merely a recipient of technology,” Jjuuko said.
She said the focus should be on ensuring technology is used responsibly rather than resisting its adoption.
“We should focus on making the right use of technology rather than opposing it,” she said.
The comments come amid growing debate over the use of AI in academic work, including research, teaching, writing and information management.
Education Cabinet Secretary, Julius Migos Ogamba, in remarks delivered by his office, said universities and other tertiary institutions should embrace emerging technologies while ensuring their application meets ethical standards.
“Our universities and tertiary institutions must embrace technology while ensuring that its application is guided by ethics and responsibility in addressing real-life challenges,” CS Julius Ogamba said in the statement.
The discussions also focused on the implications of AI for the communication sector and the need for users and institutions to consider the risks associated with its adoption.
A PhD programme in Communication and Media was also launched at St. Paul’s University during the conference.
The EACA conference is expected to continue discussions on AI, communication, education and research across East Africa.
Education CS Julius Migos Ogamba speaks during the 11th graduation ceremony of the University of Embu on Friday, August 21, 2026.
The debate is particularly significant in Africa, where many education systems are already grappling with unequal access to digital infrastructure, limited research funding and gaps in technological skills.
The arrival of powerful generative AI tools risks creating a new divide between institutions that can effectively harness the technology and those that lack the resources or policies to manage it.
Unlike earlier technologies that mainly changed how information was stored or accessed, generative AI can now produce essays, summarise research, analyse information and generate ideas within seconds.
This has complicated the traditional relationship between students, teachers and academic knowledge. A student can now submit AI-generated work with little evidence of how much of the final product reflects their own thinking.
For universities, the challenge is therefore no longer whether AI should be allowed. It is how institutions can ensure that students and researchers use it as a tool for enhancing human intelligence rather than replacing it.
