By Felicia Imohimi
The Federal Government has urged the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into environmental health operations to strengthen national safety and economic growth.
Sen. George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), made the call on Wednesday at a four-day National Workshop and Training organised by the Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON) in Abuja.
The training, in collaboration with Afri Tourism Investment Ltd, focused on “AI-Driven Operations and Predictive Analytics: Building a Safer, Healthier and Sustainable Nation”.
He was represented by Mr Ifiok Abia, Director of Political and Economic Affairs in the SGF’s office.
Akume said AI adoption must be guided by inclusivity, transparency, and accountability to ensure no community is left behind in Nigeria’s digital transformation.
“AI is shaping how societies monitor, manage, and improve their environments,” he said.
He noted that predictive analytics can anticipate disease outbreaks, detect pollution, optimise waste management, and improve emergency responses to disasters.
Akume said AI adoption aligns with achieving key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including health (SDG 3), clean water and sanitation (SDG 6), and sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11).
He added that technology alone is insufficient, stressing the importance of human capacity, regulatory readiness, and ethical governance.
He commended EHCON and partners for building professional competence to integrate modern technology into environmental health practice, describing the training as a proactive step toward national preparedness in the digital age.
The SGF linked the initiative to the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, which prioritises sustainable growth, human capital development, and public health security.
He highlighted urban congestion, indiscriminate waste disposal, flooding, and environmental degradation as major challenges affecting citizens’ health and productivity.
EHCON Chairman, Mr Ibrahim El-Sudi, said the workshop brought together environmental health officers, disease surveillance officials, public health professionals, and policymakers from across sectors.
“The workshop will catalyse the adoption of advanced technology for more efficient environmental and public health services.
“It will also generate policies and recommendations to build a resilient, tech-savvy environmental health sector nationwide,” El-Sudi said.
He noted that the hands-on training equips officers to implement AI tools effectively and fosters collaboration among stakeholders. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Tosin Kolade
