AI or Bust: Nigeria's Environmental Survival Hinges on Tech Adoption
- Experts have warned that Nigeria risks worsening climate impacts, resource depletion, and public health crises if it fails to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) for environmental management
- At the event, experts agreed that responsible AI adoption, cross-sector collaboration, and stronger policy frameworks are crucial for safeguarding Nigeria’s environment and workforce
- Legit.ng reports that with tens of millions of new users embracing the technology this year, AI adoption is increasing significantly, driven by business integration and individual user growth
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Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 9 years of experience covering environmental issues in Nigeria.
Ikeja, Lagos state - Experts have cautioned that Nigeria risks worsening climate impacts, resource depletion and public health crises if it fails to harness artificial intelligence (AI) for environmental management.
The warning came recently during the eighth memorial lecture of the late Samuel Olatunde Fadahunsi, themed 'Artificial Intelligence, Stakeholders’ Roles and Sustainable Environment: The Opportunities Ahead, which was organised by the Nigerian Institution of Environmental Engineers (NIEE), a division of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), in Lagos.
Source: Twitter
The event, attended by Legit.ng, brought together engineers, academics, policymakers, industry players and students at the NIEE Secretariat and Environmental Engineering Technology Resource Centre.
'AI crucial to securing environmental future'
In his keynote lecture, head of the sustainable procurement, Professor James Akanmu, of the Environmental and Social Standards Centre of Excellence, University of Lagos (UNILAG), said the scale and speed of environmental degradation demand data-driven solutions that traditional methods could no longer provide.
Akanmu identified key stakeholders in environmental sustainability to include governments, the private sector, academia, non-governmental organisations, communities and project proponents, urged them to embrace circular economy principles of reuse, recycling and repurposing.
He stressed that Nigeria’s commitments under the United Nations (UN) sustainable development goals (SDGs) and the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Standards must translate into enforceable legislation, effective monitoring and measurable results.
On his part, the NIEE national chairman, Nureni Adegboyega Ogunyemi, said the lecture remains “a vibrant platform for knowledge exchange, inspiration and collective action” to tackle environmental challenges.
Ogunyemi also inaugurated the institution’s new secretariat and technology resource centre, describing it as a hub for innovation, research and collaboration among engineers and other stakeholders.
Also, the past NSE president, Ademola Olorunfemi, who represented the NSE president, Margaret Oguntala, said engineers must lead in adopting AI, drones and modern monitoring tools for environmental protection, climate adaptation and sustainable urban planning.
Source: Original
The lecture was also an opportunity, as respective members of the institution were upgraded into the fellowship cadre of the NIEE.
About late Samuel Fadahunsi
Chief Fadahunsi was involved in discussion that led to the formation of NSE when young students led by Engr. Chief G. O. Aiwerioba of blessed memory, initiated the idea in London, UK. When they returned to Nigeria, the NSE was relaunched with Engineer Adeniyi Williams as President.
Fadahunsi held the position of President in 1968-1969. Later, the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), which registers all engineering practitioners, was established by statute with Chief S.O. Fadahunsi as No. 1 in its register and also as its President from 1977 to 1986.
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Engineers chart path in Lagos
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the Ikeja branch of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) finally inaugurated its 16th chairperson, Nimot Muili, making her the third woman to hold the position and cementing her role after serving in an acting capacity since August 2024.
With the theme 'Innovation for Tomorrow: Connecting Resilient Infrastructure with the Blue Economy to Achieve a Lagos Smart City', the inauguration event drew stakeholders from engineering, finance, academia, and government.
In his address, the outgoing chairman, John Adedotun, reflected on his three-year tenure.
Source: Legit.ng
