International Journal of Academic Library and Information Science

Vol. 13(4), pp. 144- --150 June, 2025. 

ISSN: 2360-7858

https://doi.org/10.14662/ijalis2025250

 

Full Length Research

 

Whispers of Tomorrow: Nigerian Students in the Age of AI

 

1Sunday Olusola LADIPO and 2Oluwaseun ABIODUN ASANRE

 

1Medical Library, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Ikeja, Lagos. Tel.+2348037531025, 2Lagos State University Library, Ojo, ICT Unit. Tel.+2348035066466, Email: oluwaseunabiodunasanre@gmail.com Orchid No.: 0000-0001-5518-2516  

*Corresponding author’s E-mail:sundayladipo@gmail.com

 

Accepted 25 June 2025

Abstract

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping economies worldwide, and its impact on the future workforce is becoming increasingly critical. In Nigeria, the perceptions and readiness of students for an AI-driven economy have emerged as pivotal factors influencing national development. Meanwhile, maximizing the benefits and provisions of the AI-driven economy requires that students are adequately informed and equipped. Therefore, understanding how Nigerian students view and prepare for an AI-centric future is essential for designing targeted educational policies and bridging digital gaps. This study examines Nigerian students' perceptions and readiness for an AI-driven economy by synthesizing recent empirical research and evaluating the role of digital literacy, institutional support, and socioeconomic factors in shaping these attitudes. A systematic review of peer-reviewed literature published from 2019 to 2024 was conducted. The review integrates findings from studies conducted in Nigeria and comparative research from other countries to provide a comprehensive perspective on students’ awareness, perception, preparedness, and potential challenges in adapting to an AI-driven economic landscape. The findings from the study reveal the level of awareness, form of perception, and level of readiness of Nigerian students to be fully functional, effective, and productive in the economy of the AI-driven era, and identify AI’s transformative potential. Significant challenges are also identified, including limited digital literacy, inadequate infrastructural support, and insufficient institutional policies that can hinder the functionality of students in the AI-driven age. The study further reveals how access to Open Access (OA) resources and digital libraries can enhance research capabilities, gaps in training and digital fluency, and impediments to full preparedness for an AI-centric economy.

 

Keywords: AI readiness; Digital literacy; Nigerian students; Workforce development; Institutional support.

 

Cite This Article As: LADIPO, S.O., Oluwaseun ASANRE, O.A (2025). Whispers of Tomorrow: Nigerian Students in the Age of AI Inter. J. Acad. Lib. Info. Sci. 13(4): 151-158