A professor of Artificial Intelligence and e-market services at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, Prof. Alaba Akingbesote, has projected that the integration of artificial intelligence and cloud computing will fundamentally reshape global commerce in the coming years, while calling for policies that guarantee digital inclusion for rural businesses and underserved communities.
Akingbesote made the call while delivering the university’s 66th inaugural lecture titled, “From Traditional Markets to Bidirectional AI-Cloud E-Marketplaces: Emergence, Challenges and Expectations.”
The scholar warned that many Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises, particularly those operating in rural Africa, remain on the margins of the digital economy despite the rapid evolution of electronic marketplaces.
According to him, inadequate digital literacy and limited access to digital tools continue to prevent many businesses from benefiting from emerging online trading systems.
He explained that traditional marketplaces were constrained by weak marketing structures, restricted access to international markets, slow adoption of cashless payment systems and challenges associated with the movement and distribution of goods.
The professor noted that cloud-based marketplaces emerged to address some of these shortcomings by providing platforms where cloud services can be advertised, assessed and transacted. However, he added that such systems still face limitations, including low automation, inadequate intelligence and weak mobility support.
Akingbesote said these deficiencies have led to the emergence of mobile cloud marketplaces designed to improve flexibility, efficiency and service delivery.
He described cloud computing and artificial intelligence as mutually reinforcing technologies, explaining that cloud infrastructure provides the computing power required for AI development, while AI enhances cloud services through automation, optimisation and smarter operations.
According to him, the convergence of both technologies has become a major driver of innovation across industries.
Despite the opportunities, the professor identified several obstacles confronting the adoption of AI-cloud marketplaces, including security concerns, data management challenges, system compatibility issues, talent shortages, rising operational costs and dependence on single service providers.
He stressed that governments, businesses and technology stakeholders must address these challenges through stronger security frameworks, standardised protocols and effective management strategies.
Looking ahead, Akingbesote predicted that future AI-cloud marketplaces would evolve beyond conventional digital platforms into intelligent systems capable of learning, adapting and improving independently through real-time experience and feedback.
He said the next generation of digital marketplaces would be able to generate new tools, optimise workflows and develop solutions to increasingly complex problems with minimal human intervention.
The professor urged the Federal Government to increase investment in research and innovation, particularly in artificial intelligence and cloud technologies, to enable Nigerian researchers to contribute meaningfully to emerging global trends.
He also called on the National Universities Commission to establish dedicated academic programmes in AI-cloud studies to facilitate the integration of advanced computing technologies into higher education curricula.
Akingbesote further advocated a review of promotion policies that emphasise single-authored research, arguing that future breakthroughs in AI-cloud innovation would require collaboration among researchers across disciplines and geographical boundaries.
He encouraged governments, universities and businesses to embrace AI-cloud marketplaces as tools for improving teaching, research, administration and commercial operations.
According to him, the technology can reduce dependence on expensive hardware infrastructure while enhancing operational efficiency, data-driven decision-making and personalised service delivery.
To bridge the digital divide, he recommended the adoption of ad-hoc mobile e-marketplaces in rural communities, schools and security formations with limited infrastructure, noting that such systems could provide flexible and secure digital services where conventional infrastructure is lacking.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, commended Akingbesote for his contributions to scholarship, research and community development.
Ige said the theme of the inaugural lecture underscored the institution’s commitment to innovation, technological advancement and the pursuit of solutions to contemporary societal challenges.
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