Sheriff Babatunde Lamidi, PhD, is a Mechanical Engineer, academic, researcher, author, Career Development Coach and youth-development advocate. He is a faculty member in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH). His research focuses on advanced and sustainable composite materials, particularly their development and application in automotive brake pad performance. His broader interests include engineering innovation, emerging technologies, research advancement and human capital development.

He is the founder of Lead & Mentor Educational Social Enterprise, a platform dedicated to career development, academic mentoring, research capacity building and youth empowerment. Through teaching, mentoring, professional development programmes and lectures on artificial intelligence, he engages students, researchers and young professionals on the practical application of emerging technologies in education, research and the world of work.

Sheriff is also an author of career and educational development books, including *Career Paths and Opportunities for Engineering, Science, Art, and Management Students* and *Study Hacks for Academic Success*. His work bridges engineering, education, research and human development, with a strong interest in how technology can expand access to knowledge and opportunity.

At DRIF27, he brings an educator's and researcher's perspective to the relationship between artificial intelligence, critical thinking, digital inclusion and human agency, particularly the need to empower young Africans to use AI responsibly without surrendering their capacity to question, reason and make informed decisions.