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Scholar Urges Gen Zs to Engage Intellect, Nurture Soul Amid Algorithmic Influence

A Scholar, Professor Habeebah Oladosu-Uthman has urged the young generation, whom she referred to as “Gen Zs,” to engage their intellect and nurture their souls while navigating the influence of algorithms.

She made this call during the Annual Faculty Lecture organised by MSSNUI Faculty of Arts, themed “Rewired: Who is Shaping Who?" at the Arts Small Lecture Theatre (SLT), University of Ibadan on Sunday, 13 September, 2026.

In her lecture, Prof. Oladosu-Uthman noted that “algorithms are what people are addicted to” and should therefore deploy algorithms for knowledge and to become someone of substance in society.

She further encouraged attendees to use their time judiciously and always question themselves on what they have achieved each day.

Prof. Oladosu-Uthman charged attendees to embrace reciting the Quran and Hadith each day, while also imploring them to maintain their virginity and stay away from anything Allah has prohibited.

In her speech, she emphasized that Islam did not ask Muslims not to socialize because Islam itself is civilization; instead, Muslims should set boundaries.

She charged attendees to consume beneficial content every day, be it a page of a book or an e-book, as a page read with understanding will stay with the reader for life. “A Muslim is not a dull person,” she added.

Prof. Oladosu-Uthman concluded by encouraging Muslims to engage their intellect, nurture their souls and be consistent in their worship and commitment to their religion.

The lecture also featured Dr. Idris Akinsanya, who spoke on “Trending or Grounded? Gen Z Popular Culture and Islamic Values.”

Describing Gen Zs as “mobile natives,” he enlightened attendees on navigating life as Gen Zs and setting boundaries in all they do.

Dr. Akinsanya encouraged attendees to stay true to their religion, noting that “a loss of identity is a loss of existence.”