Raphael Ede
Over 120 lecturers, researchers, and postgraduate students from the Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, have undergone an intensive two-day practical training in artificial intelligence aimed at boosting academic productivity and research outcomes.
The workshop was organised in collaboration with The Beaconsmith Collective, an Enugu-based creative technology organisation specialising in applied AI training, institutional capacity building, and emerging technology workshops.
The training recorded a strong turnout across various departments, drawing key university leadership, including the Dean of the Faculty, Prof. Antoninus Obinna Ezeukwu, and the Deputy Provost of the College of Medicine, Prof. Charles Ugwoke Eze, who represented the Provost.
Facilitated by Nzube Chikwado Ndiokwelu, founder of The Beaconsmith Collective and an applied AI specialist, the sessions bypassed basic theoretical concepts to focus on practical, real-world academic workflows.
Participants engaged in hands-on exercises tailored to their core responsibilities, ranging from preparing instructional materials and reviewing scientific literature to designing student assessments and identifying international grant calls.
Speaking on the impact of the training, Ndiokwelu noted, “AI should not be seen as a replacement for academic rigor, but as a catalyst to amplify human intellect and streamline research workflows.
“Our goal is to equip scholars with practical tools that eliminate administrative bottlenecks so they can focus on high-impact discovery and teaching.”
A key highlight for many scholars was discovering how AI tools could uncover hidden research opportunities, flag international funding calls, and foster cross-border academic collaborations.
However, discussions were not strictly focused on utility. Participants raised critical concerns regarding the reliability of information generated by AI platforms, particularly when applied to clinical education and medical research.
Debates centered on inaccurate citation references, algorithmic hallucinations, and the grave risks of relying too heavily on systems that can produce convincing yet erroneous answers.
Addressing these concerns during a session on digital trust, one of the participating academics remarked, “While these tools offer incredible speed, clinical research demands absolute accuracy.
“We must maintain a culture of relentless verification because automated systems, no matter how sophisticated, cannot replace human clinical judgment and ethical oversight.”
The workshop represents the second installment of Beaconsmith’s *AI for Academic Productivity* initiative at the university, following a successful train-the-trainers session conducted for the Faculty of the Social Sciences in August 2026.
Beyond institutional capacity training, Beaconsmith operates The Beaconsmith House in Enugu, a creative technology hub connecting AI, robotics, digital media, and creative art communities. The hub gained national prominence in 2025 when Ndiokwelu’s AI-assisted film, The People of the Forest, won Best AI Short Film at the Naija Artificial Intelligence Film Festival.
At the conclusion of the workshop, the Faculty presented a plaque of appreciation to The Beaconsmith Collective in recognition of its contribution to institutional development.
Reflecting on the honor, Ndiokwelu, an alumnus of the institution, said, “Returning to my alma mater to share knowledge and empower our faculty is deeply personal for me. I hope to see more sustained opportunities for academics and students to gain practical experience with emerging technologies so this expertise can be passed down to future generations.”
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