The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, has thrown his weight behind a proposed international conference on artificial intelligence, following a high-level visit by officials of Dominican University Ibadan.
A delegation from the university, led by Vice-Chancellor Jacinta Opara and represented by the Dean of Science, Tim Odiaka, met with the monarch at his palace in Ibadan to seek endorsement and royal backing for the forthcoming global conference.
The conference, titled “Artificial Intelligence and the Human Future: Ethics, Communication, and the Voices of Women and Youth at the Margins,” is scheduled to hold in May 2026, and is expected to attract scholars, researchers, and policy experts from across the world.
During the visit, the university formally requested the Olubadan to serve as Royal Host, an offer the monarch accepted, describing the conference theme as timely and critical in the face of rapid technological advancement.
Speaking on behalf of the institution, Professor Odiaka highlighted the university’s academic vision and history, noting that it was established in 2016 to mark the 800th anniversary of the Dominican Order, making it the first Dominican university in Africa.
He added that the conference builds on the success of the institution’s 2026 Aquinas Day Colloquium, which drew widespread attention for its intellectual engagement on religion and African identity.
The delegation also used the visit to strengthen institutional ties with the traditional authority, pledging the university’s readiness to provide research and policy support for community development initiatives in Ibadanland.
In his response, Oba Ladoja commended the university’s growing academic profile and urged its leadership to intensify public sensitization on the implications of artificial intelligence, particularly its impact on society and governance.
He further called for stronger collaboration between academic institutions and research bodies within Ibadan to drive innovation and development in the city.
The monarch expressed optimism that the university would evolve into a global centre for knowledge that balances technological advancement with cultural values, while also lending his support to its upcoming convocation ceremonies.
The visit ended on a note of mutual commitment, with both parties reaffirming their resolve to deepen collaboration in advancing education, research, and societal development.
Reporting By Niran Odufayo