A Nigerian graduate student at Emporia State University, Kansas, United States, Paschal, has developed an Artificial Intelligence (AI) platform aimed at transforming academic research in Nigerian universities by reducing research time and improving access to global scholarly materials.
Paschal said the idea came from observing the stark contrast between research accessibility in American universities and the challenges Nigerian scholars face.
“I sat in the library at Emporia State, watching my American classmates access dozens of journal databases with a single click,” he recalled. “Meanwhile, my former colleagues in Nigeria were struggling to access even basic research papers. I thought, if AI can write poetry and code, why can’t it help level this playing field?”
The innovation comes at a time when Nigerian universities continue to grapple with declining research output, poor funding, and lack of access to international journals.
Paschal’s platform employs machine learning to scan over 200 million academic papers, identify gaps, and assist researchers in creating quality literature reviews and proposals tailored to Nigerian contexts.
“A Nigerian researcher studying flood management doesn’t need references to Mississippi River systems,” Paschal explained. “They need studies from tropical climates, local policy documents, and globally relevant work that still addresses local challenges.”
The tool is designed to function efficiently on low-bandwidth networks and basic smartphones, making it accessible to Nigerian scholars working under limited infrastructure.
Early testers at Emporia State reported that research tasks which previously took weeks were completed in hours, with noticeable improvements in proposal quality.
A lecturer from a federal university in Nigeria who tested the beta version said, “This tool showed me how to position my work for global relevance. That’s something years of isolated research couldn’t give me.”
Beyond its technological innovation, Paschal’s project reflects the growing trend of Nigerian scholars in the diaspora using their expertise to tackle challenges back home.
As a former Public Relations Officer of the African & Caribbean Students Association at Emporia State, he has maintained strong links with Nigerian academia. “Every Nigerian student abroad carries this guilt,” he said.
“We enjoy these incredible resources while our peers at home struggle. This tool is my way of bridging that gap.”
While some academics have raised concerns about AI tools undermining academic rigor, Paschal insisted the platform complements, rather than replaces, researchers.
“This tool isn’t replacing researchers,” he said. “It’s giving them a better library and an assistant. The ideas still come from them.”
Paschal is currently in talks with several Nigerian universities and development partners to ensure the platform’s sustainability and affordability.
With three universities already lined up for the next pilot phase, he believes technology can close the research gap between Nigeria and the world.
“I dream of a day when a brilliant student in Maiduguri can compete equally with someone at MIT, not because they have the same resources, but because technology has eliminated that barrier,” he said.
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