The American University of Nigeria (AUN) is redefining research in the digital age by embracing technology as a partner in knowledge creation. Recently, the Learning and Teaching Center (LTC), led by Associate Professor Agatha Ukata, organized an e-resources tour at the University’s e-Learning Center. The event brought together faculty members, administrative staff, and students to explore how emerging tools—particularly artificial intelligence—are transforming academic inquiry.
Mr. Omachi Okolo, Assistant Director of Information and Digital Literacy and the lead presenter, delivered a session that moved beyond conventional research methods. He introduced participants to a variety of digital resources and demonstrated how both open-access and subscription-based platforms can deepen research engagement. He also offered practical guidance on reference management using digital tools and showed how AI can help identify new research areas through topic discovery and innovation.
Mr. Omachi highlighted the range of resources available to the AUN community, including digital libraries, catalogs, institutional repositories, and global databases that support scholarly work. He also showcased platforms such as OverDrive and PressReader, which extend access to e-books, newspapers, and magazines. In addition, he introduced AI-powered tools like ProQuest, Answerthis, NotebookLM, and StormGenie, demonstrating how researchers can use them not only to gather information, but also to organize ideas, generate research questions, and expand analytical thinking.
He emphasized that the future of research depends on merging digital innovation with intellectual discipline. He stressed the importance of upholding factual accuracy, applying established evaluation standards, relying on credible and verifiable sources, and maintaining strong ethical principles in all scholarly work. These, he explained, are the guardrails that ensure AI enhances rather than undermines academic integrity.
Addressing the hesitation that some institutions still have toward AI, he acknowledged existing resistance but noted that its impact is now unavoidable. He stated that even though academic institutions seem to be resisting the use of AI, “it has come to stay,” pointing to the rapid advancement of the technology and the way “industries and institutions across the globe have accepted and incorporated it in their daily work routine in different endeavors.”
AUN is not positioning AI as a substitute for human reasoning, but as a tool that can extend human capacity.
Reported by John Abah