BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr George Akume has disclosed that Nigeria is better positioned to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those relating to health (SDG 3), clean water and sanitation (SDG 6), and sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11) by embracing Artificial Intelligence (AI).
This was the crux of discuss in Abuja at a 3-day workshop organised by EHCON in collaboration with Afri-Tourism Investment Limited and West Africa Gas Pipeline Authority (WAGPA) with the theme: "AI-Driven Operations and Predictive Analysis."
The focus of the workshop is to improve environmental health practice and prevent emerging diseases using artificial intelligent.
Digital Economy.
He pointed out that the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) would continue to coordinate policies that reinforce inter-agency synergy and ensure that environmental health initiatives complemented national strategies on public health, digital economy, and sustainable development.
Akume, who was represented by the Director of Political and Economy Affairs, Mr Ifiok Abio hinted that Artificial Intelligence was no longer a futuristic concept, but a present-day reality that is already shaping how societies monitor, manage, and improve their environments.
"Through predictive analytics, we can anticipate disease outbreaks, detect pollution patterns, optimize waste management, and enhance emergency responses to natural disasters," he said.
He stated that the success of AI-driven environmental operations depends on human capacity, regulatory readiness, and ethical governance.
The SGF maintained that the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu priortises sustainable growth, human capital development, and public health security.
Akume added that the agenda envisioned a Nigeria where every citizen lives in a clean, healthy, and safe environment that promotes productivity and prosperity.
He described the training workshop as a proactive step toward national preparedness in the digital age.
Akume noted that the Federal Government through relevant ministries and agencies, would continue to support such initiatives, particularly those that build local expertise, encourage innovation, and promote the responsible use of emerging technologies.
Collective Commitment
He stated that building a safer, healthier, and more sustainable Nigeria requires the collective commitment of all such as government, academia, the private sector, civil society, and citizens.
"We must see environmental health not as a peripheral activity, but as central to our national safety and economic growth. The adoption of AI in this field should therefore be guided by inclusivity, transparency, and accountability, so that no community is left behind in the nation’s digital transformation journey," he added.
The SGF enjoined all participants to approach the sessions with open minds and a spirit of innovation, hoping that the knowledge and ideas generated would translate into tangible outcomes for improved service delivery, stronger institutions, and healthier communities.
He praised EHCON and its partners for taking the initiative to train professionals and build the competencies required to integrate modern technology into environmental health practice.
Transformative Technology
On “Building the Proactive Nation: Harnessing AI to Safeguard Nigeria’s Environmental Health and a Healthier Generation," the keynote speaker, Dr. Adeyemi Ajibesin hinted that AI is a powerful and transformative technology capable of helping nations to plan, predict, and grow, expected to enable Nigeria achieve the future it envisions.
Ajibesin, a lecturer at the Department of Information and Design, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, South Africa harped on the need for Nigeria to fully embrace artificial intelligence.
At the end, the training will empower Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) with the necessary digital skills needed to deepen environmental health practice and provide workable solutions to problems.
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