President Bola Tinubu has cautioned students against abandoning critical thinking in favour of artificial intelligence (AI), urging them to preserve the intellectual discipline at the heart of meaningful education.
Speaking at the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College in Castries on Tuesday, Tinubu said that while AI offers new possibilities, it must not replace the rigour of step-by-step problem-solving and the satisfaction that comes from personal discovery.
“Don’t depend on AI technology to find you the solution,” he told the gathering. “Go through like a recipe in the kitchen, one after the other. Then you solve the problem. Once you solve the problem, you see satisfaction in yourself and pride in achievement.”
The President, who is on a State Visit to Saint Lucia, addressed students and faculty at the institution named after the late Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences, Sir Arthur Lewis. He emphasised that the human capacity for reason and curiosity must remain central, even in a world increasingly shaped by machines.
“What you get out of this college is your own that you can use to achieve anything in life,” Tinubu says. “Just be determined, consistent, and bold. Be intellectually inquisitive.”
His remarks come amid growing global concerns that the rapid adoption of generative AI tools could erode essential cognitive skills among students. By encouraging young people to stay grounded in fundamental thinking, Tinubu positioned intellectual resilience as vital for both personal development and national progress.
“Nothing like education can fight poverty,” he said. “If anybody tells you that education is not crucial, ask the person to try ignorance.”
The message resonated across the audience, which included faculty, government officials, and students from across the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). Tinubu’s visit to the college also featured cultural engagements and reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to Afro-Caribbean cooperation in education, culture, and technology.
Edward Shadrack, Saint Lucia’s Minister for Education, Sustainable Development, Innovation, Science, Technology and Vocational Training, says that the visit underscores a shared belief in the power of learning.
“Today’s gathering symbolises more than a diplomatic visit. It reflects our shared belief in the power of education to bridge continents, build partnerships, and shape a more connected and empowered world,” he says.
Student leaders also welcomed the President’s perspective. Naeem Philbert, President of the Students’ Council, describes the visit as a reminder of the deep ties between Africa and the Caribbean—and a prompt to build lasting intellectual and cultural bridges.
“Though our stories have been written on different ocean sides, they remain deeply connected,” Philbert says. “We look forward to building lasting bridges—student to student, story to story.”
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