Miss Maayofoluwa Owodunni, a 300-level student of Economics, Trinity University, has emerged the second-place winner in the maiden edition of the Lagos Commodities and Futures Exchange (LCFE) Essay Competition for the tertiary level, at the 3 rd Annual Financial Literacy Seminar, 2023, organized by the Exchange.
The essay competition required the participants to submit entries of 3,000 words, on the topic: “Exploring the Future: Can AI Replace Human Traders in Commodities Exchange?” For her feat, she has earned herself the LCFE certificate of outstanding performance, a one-month internship at the Exchange and a cash prize of N100,000.00 (One Hundred Thousand Naira).
In her paper, Maayofoluwa observes that artificial intelligence (AI) has led to a worldwide revolutionary change in the dynamics and operations of the commodities and exchange market. She argues, however, that AI cannot replace the human being, at least in the immediate future.
Recalling how she came into the contest, Maayofoluwa said that she got to know of the competition only three days to submission deadline, through her lecturer, Mrs. Ayobola Charles, who did not only introduce her to the competition, but also encouraged and mentored her.
“I was shocked to learn that I had won the prize,” the young student economist enthuses. Obviously happy, and bursting into rounds of laughter, all through the conversation, Maayofoluwa gives God all the glory for the achievement. She also appreciates Mrs. Charles who gave her the lead and the encouragement. Mrs. Ayobola, on her part, said she was happy and elated that her student emerged a winner. She said that she was not surprised, having known Maayofoluwa as one of the best students in the class. She said that Maayofoluwa was intelligent, diligent and goes out of her way to learn. She advised other students to be diligent, hardworking and learn to exact themselves.