Seun Oyedeji Warns AI Could Become Curse If Misused As Encounter 2026 Holds In Ikeja

The Convener of the Encounter Series, Seun Oyedeji, has described the 2026 edition of The Encounter Symposium as timely, saying Artificial Intelligence has become an integral part of modern life with far-reaching implications for education, communication and society.

The symposium, headlined by renowned comedian Ali Baba and other speakers, was held at the Radisson Blu, Ikeja, and brought together students, educators, parents and young professionals for conversations on the responsible use of AI.

Speaking at the event, Oyedeji, a seasoned broadcast journalist, acknowledged the benefits of AI in research, creativity and information dissemination, but warned that the technology could also facilitate misinformation, manipulated videos and other forms of digital deception.

“Artificial intelligence is good. It has come to make life easier for us. It is a blessing, but it could become a curse if we are not intentional about how we deploy it,” she said.

Oyedeji expressed concern over children’s increasing exposure to digital devices, noting that some were already finding ways to circumvent parental controls. She urged parents to monitor the platforms their children access, determine appropriate ages for introducing digital devices and encourage responsible technology use.

She further cautioned that excessive reliance on AI could undermine creativity, originality and independent thinking, insisting that the technology should complement rather than replace human intelligence.

One of the participants, Ezekiel David of Platform College, described AI as more of a friend than an enemy, saying it could help young people acquire knowledge, adapt to emerging trends and prepare for the demands of a changing economy.

A major highlight of the symposium was the inter-school debate competition. Platform College emerged winner, while Government Senior College came first runner-up and Mandate Private School finished third.

Oyedeji said the symposium was designed to encourage young people to explore the positive applications of AI and resist pressures to use the technology for harmful purposes.

She expressed optimism that its responsible adoption would enable Nigerian youths to develop innovative solutions to national and global challenges.