INFLUENCE OF INSECURITY AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ON THE QUALITY OF TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING IN NIGERIA

This study examines the dual influence of insecurity and artificial intelligence (AI) on the quality of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Nigeria. Drawing on contemporary literature, the paper argues that insecurity and AI represent two contrasting yet interconnected disruptive forces shaping the effectiveness of TVET delivery. Insecurity (manifested through insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, and communal conflicts) undermines educational access, destroys infrastructure, displaces learners and instructors, and creates psychological barriers (such as trauma, fear, and anxiety) that diminish teaching and learning outcomes. Conversely, AI presents transformative opportunities for enhancing TVET through personalized learning, intelligent assessment systems, virtual simulations, and improved skill acquisition. However, the effective integration of AI into TVET in Nigeria remains constrained by inadequate educational and digital infrastructure, insufficient funding, weak policy implementation, limited technical expertise, and persistent digital inequalities. The paper further highlights the complex and interdependent relationship between these factors, suggesting that insecurity constrains technological advancement and educational investment, while inadequately developed TVET systems may indirectly contribute to unemployment and socioeconomic conditions associated with persistent insecurity. The paper concludes that improving TVET quality requires an integrated and context-responsive approach that simultaneously addresses security challenges while promoting inclusive and equitable AI integration across TVET institutions. Accordingly, strategic investments in AI-ready infrastructure, digital capacity development for TVET educators, effective policy implementation, and sustainable institutional partnerships are recommended to facilitate inclusive AI integration and prevent the widening of existing educational inequalities. Ultimately, the paper posits that strengthening TVET is essential not only for economic growth but also as a sustainable pathway for enhancing national security in Nigeria.