Speaker
Description
Azu, E. C.
Imo State Polytechnic Omuma, Imo State Nigeria
ejekaca@yahoo.com
Track: Digital Pedagogy and Teaching Innovation
This study investigates the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into business and entrepreneurship curricula in Nigeria higher education, with a focus on identifying the opportunities and challenges associated with such innovation. Against the backdrop of rapid global technological advancement and the evolving demands of the Fourth Industial Revolution, the research seeks to assess stakeholders awareness, institutional readiness, perceived benefits, and the systemic barriers to AI adoption in business education programmes. Guided by the Innovation Diffusion Theory (IDT), the study employed a descriptive survey design and collected quantitative data from 168 respondents, including students, lecturers, and academic administrators across federal and state, tertiary institutions in Imo State, Nigeria. Findings revealed a high level of awareness (mean scores: 4.08, 4.22, 3.65 and 2.97) and positive perception of AI's relevance among stakeholders (mean scores 4.10, 4.22. 3.98 and 4.28). However, integration efforts are hindered by significant infrastructure deficits, limited faculty expertise, lack of funding and inflexible curriculum structures with the mean values of 4.33, 4.17, 3.89 and 3.75 respectively. Despite these challenges, participants acknowledged AI's potential to enhance teaching efficiency, promote personalised learning, align education with industry demands and increase graduates' employability. The study concludes that AI holds transformative potential for business and entrepreneurship education in Nigeria if critical institutional reforms and investments are made. It recommends strategic curriculum revision, faculty training, infrastructure development and multi-stakeholder collaboration to create a conducive environment for effective AI integration. This research contributes to the discourse on digital transformation in African higher education and offers a road map for aligning business education with global technological trends.