Experts in sports development in Africa recently debated innovative ways in which athletes on the continent could use Artificial Intelligence, among other techniques, to excel in their sporting disciplines. This was shared at the Scientific Conference held as part of the Pan-African University Championship, FASU, co-organized by the University of Lagos, UNILAG, and the Lagos State University, LASU.
Gathered at the main campus of the University of Lagos, Ojo, the experts from various African universities stressed that the world is moving forward rapidly, and it is time for African nations to stop lagging behind by adopting modern methods.
They stressed the need for collaboration among universities on the continent, encouraging the sharing of experiences to foster mutual learning. Speakers included Prof. Vincent Onywera, Prof. A.R. Awopetu, Prof. Olawale Moronkola, Prof. Clement Fasan, Prof. Johnson Adewara, Dr. Boluwaji Jayesinmi, Dr. Babatunde Sawyerr, and Dr. Victor Ademola, among others.
A major topic discussed at the conference was that of Emotional Intelligence, which is considered a key element in the success of sports champions. Indeed, many promising sports careers have been cut short due to the inability of athletes to control their emotions.
Discussions also touched on issues such as the need for research, the valorization of local research, funding, as well as the ethical aspects of research and Artificial Intelligence.
Prof. Moronkola, the Director General of the National Institute of Sports (NIS) in Surulere, Lagos, stressed the importance of collaboration among sports specialists. He particularly mentioned sports psychologists, physical education professionals, sports physiologists, and sports nutritionists, highlighting the positive impact their collaboration could have on athletes.
Prof. Onywera, Professor of Exercise, Recreation and Sports Sciences at Kenyatta University in Kenya, spoke about the role of Artificial Intelligence in the evolution of sports in Africa. Highlighting the notion of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, he stressed the importance of innovation and research to transform the sports landscape.
He also expressed concern about the underperformance of African athletes at the recent Summer Olympics in France, stressing the need for more innovative approaches to enable the continent’s athletes to compete internationally and win medals..
This reflection reflects the growing importance of Artificial Intelligence and research in the sports field in Africa, offering new perspectives for the development of sports talents on the continent.