De-Dynamic @ 20: Expert Urges Schools To Prepare Students For AI-Driven Future

ABEOKUTA — Schools have been urged to move beyond examination-focused education and equip students with the resilience, creativity, critical thinking and technological skills required to thrive in an increasingly volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) world.

A brand practitioner and education advocate, Dr. Eddy Ademosu, made the call while delivering a public lecture at the 20th anniversary celebration of De-Dynamic Private Schools, Sango-Ota, Ogun State, on Friday.

Speaking on the theme, “From 2006 to 2026 and Beyond: Building Resilient Minds for a VUCA World,” Ademosu said the rapid transformation driven by artificial intelligence, automation and other emerging technologies had made it necessary for schools to rethink how children were prepared for the future.

He said the world had changed significantly since De-Dynamic was established in 2006, stressing that students graduating in the coming years would enter a labour market characterised by jobs, technologies and challenges that were yet to emerge.

According to him, the critical question should no longer be whether students were merely passing examinations such as WAEC and JAMB, but whether they possessed the resilience and competencies required to succeed beyond the classroom.

Ademosu identified AI literacy, creativity, critical thinking and emotional intelligence as critical skills that would become increasingly valuable in the workplace by 2030.

He urged the school to move from restricting students’ use of artificial intelligence tools to teaching them how to deploy the technology responsibly and effectively, including through prompt engineering and other digital competencies.

He also stressed the importance of creativity, saying Nigeria’s future opportunities would increasingly depend on the ability of its young people to create solutions across sectors including technology, entertainment, fashion and business.

On critical thinking, he urged schools to train students to interrogate information by asking questions about evidence, sources and motives, particularly in an era of misinformation, online fraud and fake news.

Ademosu further emphasised emotional intelligence, noting that academic qualifications alone were insufficient to guarantee long-term success, as empathy, teamwork, communication and self-control were essential to career development and leadership.

He called for the introduction and strengthening of coding clubs, debate societies, entrepreneurship programmes and counselling services, while encouraging partnerships between schools, technology hubs and EdTech companies.

He said: “A certificate gets you an interview. Character + Competence + Creativity gets you a career.”

The lecturer also commended De-Dynamic Private Schools for surviving two decades of economic difficulties, the COVID-19 pandemic, insecurity, policy changes and rising operational costs.

He described the school’s journey in terms of “grit, growth and greatness,” noting that its alumni had progressed into universities, businesses, hospitals, government and other fields in Nigeria and abroad.

Ademosu said the greatest achievement of the school was not merely its academic results but its contribution to developing responsible citizens with discipline, integrity and a sense of community.

He charged the school’s alumni to contribute to the development of the institution and the wider community by becoming mentors, employers and advocates.

He proposed initiatives such as the “De-Dynamic Alumni Impact Fund” and “Adopt-a-Class Programme” to strengthen alumni involvement in the school’s future.

Looking ahead, he challenged the institution to consolidate its first 20 years of “BUILD” and use the next two decades to “LEAD.”

He outlined BUILD as Brilliance in Academics, Upright Character, Innovative Mindset, Life Skills and Dynamic Excellence, while LEAD represents Leadership, Excellence, Accountability and Distinction.

Earlier, the Proprietor of De-Dynamic Private Schools, Dr. Jide Bello, described the anniversary as a milestone in the institution’s two-decade journey of educating and shaping young people.

Bello said the school, which began as an idea and commitment to make a difference in the lives of young people, had grown into an institution whose former students were now contributing to society in various professions and fields.

He said the school’s mission had always extended beyond academic instruction to developing the knowledge, character, confidence, discipline, creativity and sense of responsibility of its students.

The Proprietor expressed appreciation to parents for entrusting their children to the institution, as well as to past and present teachers and other staff members whose contributions, he said, had helped shape the school.

He described teachers as “builders of lives,” stressing that the impact of education often extended far beyond the classroom.

Bello also urged current students to combine academic excellence with good character, respect for teachers and parents, and a commitment to making meaningful contributions to society.

Addressing the alumni, he encouraged them to remain connected to the school and contribute to its continued development, noting that their achievements remained a source of pride to the institution.

Bello said De-Dynamic would focus increasingly on innovation, excellence and continuous improvement, particularly as technology, artificial intelligence, globalisation and new communication systems continue to transform education and the workplace.

He said the institution’s ambition was to build on the foundation of the past 20 years and become stronger academically, morally and technologically.