Artificial intelligence (AI) is fundamentally altering the knowledge, skills, competencies, and learning arrangements required for participation in contemporary society. While previous educational systems were largely designed around the acquisition of relatively stable bodies of knowledge during the formative years of life, the rapid diffusion of AI and digital technologies has made continuous learning, reskilling and adaptation increasingly indispensable. This paper examines the imperative of re-educating Nigerians for the age of artificial intelligence, with particular emphasis on human capital development, digital competence and educational transformation. Drawing on Human Capital Theory, the Capability Approach and lifelong-learning perspectives, the paper argues that education should no longer be conceptualized merely as an initial investment in human capital but as a continuous mechanism for renewing human capability throughout the life course. The paper adopts a conceptual and integrative review approach, synthesizing recent international literature, Nigerian empirical studies, and national education and digital-policy documents. Evidence indicates that AI offers significant opportunities for personalized learning, adaptive instruction, teacher support, curriculum innovation, and expanded access to knowledge. However, Nigeria faces substantial constraints, including digital inequality, inadequate infrastructure, limited teacher preparedness, curriculum rigidity, affordability, ethical concerns, and weak institutional capacity. Recent Nigerian evidence demonstrates disparities in access to digital learning, emerging concerns about AI adoption among educators, and growing student interest in AI-supported adaptive learning. The paper proposes a Continuous AI-Ready Human Capital Development Framework (CAHDF) comprising digital access, AI-enabled pedagogy, teacher re-education, curriculum renewal, and lifelong learning. It argues that Nigeria’s educational competitiveness will depend not merely on acquiring AI technologies but on developing citizens capable of thinking critically, learning continuously, collaborating responsibly with AI, and converting knowledge into innovation and productivity.

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