Experts have raised fresh concerns that Nigeria’s survival against worsening climate change, resource depletion, and public health risks will depend on how quickly the nation adopts Artificial Intelligence (AI) in environmental management. Speaking at the eighth memorial lecture of the late Samuel Olatunde Fadahunsi, organised by the Nigerian Institution of Environmental Engineers (NIEE) in Lagos, stakeholders stressed that traditional approaches are no longer sufficient to tackle the scale of environmental degradation.
Delivering the keynote lecture, Professor James Akanmu of the University of Lagos said only data-driven solutions powered by AI can address Nigeria’s mounting environmental crises. He urged governments, private firms, academics, NGOs, and communities to embrace circular economy practices such as reuse, recycling, and repurposing, noting that Nigeria’s obligations under the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and World Bank standards must be backed by enforceable laws, measurable outcomes, and strong monitoring systems.
The NIEE National Chairman, Nureni Adegboyega Ogunyemi, described the lecture as a platform for “knowledge exchange and collective action” while inaugurating the institution’s new Secretariat and Environmental Engineering Technology Resource Centre in Lagos. The facility, he said, would serve as a hub for research, innovation, and collaboration on sustainable solutions. The past president of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Ademola Olorunfemi, further urged engineers to lead the adoption of AI, drones, and modern monitoring tools to strengthen climate adaptation and sustainable urban planning.
Beyond the environmental sector, experts are also pushing Nigerian companies to embrace AI in the workplace. At the third edition of Phillips Consulting (PCL) Talent Management Series in Lagos, Co-Founder of MuchSkills, Daniel Nilsson, explained that businesses worldwide are shifting to a skill-based model rather than traditional job titles. He argued that companies leveraging AI to identify and optimise employee strengths are becoming more competitive, efficient, and better prepared for the future of work.
Supporting the call, Phillips Consulting COO, Olawanle Moronkeji, and Phillips Outsourcing’s Head of Business Operations, Felicia Ebhohimen, said AI is reshaping organisational structures globally. They stressed that leaders must ensure AI adoption drives fairness, agility, and growth while maintaining people-centric workplaces. According to them, organisations that embrace AI-driven skill development and adapt to shifting workforce demands will remain resilient in Nigeria’s rapidly evolving economic and environmental landscape.
Source: Guardian