Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has unveiled Artificial Intelligence-powered robotic tutors and other digital learning innovations at the Bayelsa Medical University, Yenagoa, in a major boost to medical education in the state.
Unveiling the innovations on Monday alongside the university’s 2025-2029 Strategic Plan, Governor Diri said the initiative would make teaching and learning more interactive while strengthening research and technological development.
He, however, stressed that digital tools must complement human instruction and not replace lecturers.
Governor Diri charged the management to implement the strategic plan to achieve measurable improvements in academic standards, research excellence, infrastructure and graduate quality.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the university’s ASPIRE Agenda for academic excellence, sustainability, partnerships, innovation and technology, research excellence, empowerment and leadership development.
He commended Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dimie Ogoina for his visionary leadership and urged the university to synergize with the Ministries of Education and Health.
According to him, the administration’s investment in science, technical and vocational education would produce qualified candidates for BMU and other tertiary institutions.
The governor recalled the vision of late Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha who initiated the former 500-bed hospital and Senator Seriake Dickson who transformed it into the medical university, adding that the BMU campus at Sampou was nearing completion.
Governor Diri, who inspected the Bayelsa Medical University Teaching Hospital, said the hospital was equipped with advanced diagnostic facilities including CT scans to improve access to specialised care.
He also inspected the Bayelsa State Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System and inaugurated two lecture auditoriums.
Earlier, Prof. Ogoina said the university had secured accreditation for nine programmes, recorded 96 per cent pass rate in Nursing Science, produced over 70 peer-reviewed publications, and gained full membership of the Consortium of Medical Schools of Africa.
He said the institution was selected as one of 18 medical schools for a high-impact intervention programme and was establishing a Virtual Reality, AI and Mixed-Reality studio, a Clinical Skills Laboratory, and Centres of Excellence for Digital Health and for Health, Environment and Development.
He thanked Governor Diri for his support and assured that the university would achieve its target of becoming a nationally respected and internationally recognised institution by 2029.
