HARNESSING AI FOR ENHANCING QUALITY IN UNIVERSITY EDUCATION IN NIGERIA: ISSUES IN TEACHING AND LEARNING TRANSLATION AND INTERPRETATION

Author: Panu Abosede Sewedo, Ridwan Oyekulehin and Prof. Adam Adebayo SIRAJUDEEN

Researcher, Institute of Translation Arts, University of Ilorin, Ilorin-Nigeria, Researcher, Institute of Translation Arts, University of Ilorin, Ilorin-Nigeria and Federal University of Lafia, Nasarawa State- Nigeria

Date: 01/11/2025

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The global acceleration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) presents a pivotal opportunity to address deep-seated pedagogical and infrastructural challenges in higher education. This paper offers a critical examination of the potential for AI to transform the teaching and learning of translation and interpretation within the unique and complex context of Nigerian universities. Moving beyond technological determinism, it argues that successful integration necessitates a tripartite framework addressing Technological Access, Pedagogical Adaptation, and Socio-Cultural Contextualization. The study employs a mixed-methods approach, drawing on policy analysis, surveys of language departments, and case studies of early AI adoption attempts. Findings reveal that while AI tools such as neural machine translation, automatic speech recognition, and adaptive learning platforms can dramatically enhance learning efficiency, provide real-time practice environments, and foster digital literacy, their implementation is critically hampered by infrastructural deficits, a lack of localized training data, and insufficient educator preparedness. Crucially, the study identifies the risk of linguistic hegemony, where reliance on AI models trained on Western languages could further marginalize Nigerian indigenous languages. The paper concludes that a top-down policy approach alone will fail. Instead, it proposes a multi-stakeholder, ecosystem-based model involving strategic public-private partnerships, the development of open-source, Nigeria-centric AI resources, and a fundamental revision of curricula to embed critical AI literacy. This approach is essential not merely for adopting technology but for ensuring that AI serves as a tool for empowering Nigerian linguistic heritage and producing graduates capable of leading in the global digital economy.

Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, Translation Pedagogy, Interpretation Training, Educational Technology, Digital Divide, Nigerian Languages, Curriculum Development, Critical AI Literacy, Language Policy, Higher Education in Africa.