News - News Agency Of Nigeria

Nigeria must align policy, investment to maximise AI, IoT benefits in 2026 – Expert (Page 89)

By Ijeoma Olorunfemi

Nigeria must align policy frameworks, infrastructure investment to harness the benefits of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT) and other emerging digital technologies in 2026.

An ICT expert, Mr Jide Awe, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja while stating possible ICT outlook for 2026 and its implications for Nigeria’s digital transformation.

He said Nigeria was well positioned to benefit from AI, IoT, cloud technologies, and leveraging on the technologies could address challenges in the financial sector, ensure public service delivery, among other benefits.

“Governance systems will benefit from scalable automation, smarter decision-making, and wider access to digital services and digital divide, however, remains a major concern in the absence of deliberate and inclusive policies.

“There is significant opportunity and growing demand for intelligent IoT applications in Nigeria’s power, agriculture, transportation, and security sectors.

“These gains also increase cybersecurity risks, making strict security systems that do not automatically trust any user or device, along with strong local data protection and privacy measures, increasingly important,’’ he said.

According to Awe, cloud and edge computing are well suited to Nigeria’s connectivity realities, enabling real-time processing in low-connectivity environments and lowering barriers for startups in agriculture, fintech, education, and health.

He further said that Extended Reality (XR)could be adopted for skills training and infrastructure planning, while cybersecurity could become a national economic priority as digital adoption expands and more critical services move online.

On AI, Awe said it would be the foundation of digital systems, shaping economies, while focus was shifting from simple assistants to autonomous, multi-agent systems that could plan and execute complex workflows across business functions.

“AI is also moving into hardware, edge devices, and wearables and this will enable faster on-device processing and reduce reliance on cloud connectivity.

“IoT is evolving from basic connectivity into intelligent, AI-driven systems capable of analysing data and acting autonomously, especially at the edge.

“As billions of devices become essential to daily operations, strong security measures that assume no device is automatically trusted, along with advanced encryption, will be essential.

“Smart villages, cities, industrial automation, and advanced transport systems will benefit from faster networks, multi-cloud models, and advanced sensors,’’ Awe said.

He also added that cloud computing was becoming more flexibe, and more convenient to handle sensitive information in compliance with regulations.

On Robotics and Physical AI, he said they were expanding, hence enabling real-world tasks in the manufacturing, logistics and services sector.

According to him, Physical AI will move from rigid programming to systems that understand natural language and learn by observing humans and Robotics will improve productivity, safety, and enable 24/7 autonomous operations.

Awe mentioned that XR tools such as virtual reality, augmented reality and digital twins were all digital tools optimising operations in different sectors.

“As AI and IoT expand, cybersecurity is shifting toward AI-driven threat detection, automated responses, and a system that assumes no device or user is automatically trusted.

“This technology at the same time creates new risks, including AI-powered attacks, ransomware on critical infrastructure, and privacy breaches.

“AI, IoT, and cloud-edge computing will transform enterprise operations through automation, personalisation, resilience and competitive advantage will depend on coordinating AI ecosystems across hybrid and multi-vendor environments.’’

According to him, responsible innovation will drive efficiency, growth and new opportunities.

He added that the country could leverage energy-efficient hardware, low-power networks, low-emission operations and harness Green IoT that could enable real-time monitoring of energy, water, waste through smart grids, among others.

He stated that unequal access to AI, IoT, cloud computing would reinforce social and economic inequalities but technological progress would be meaningful when it was inclusive.

“The outlook for technology is bright, however, Nigeria’s long-term success will depend on sustained infrastructure investment, reliable power supply, broadband expansion, inclusion and equity, cybersecurity readiness, and inclusive digital education.

“While the technologies are real, governance, investment, leadership commitment and an innovative mindset among the population must also be equally strong,’’ Awe said.

Edited by Sadiya Hamza

Nigeria must align policy, investment to maximise AI, IoT benefits in 2026 – Expert

By: Ndubisi Ijeoma

On: January 20, 2026

In: Science & Tech

With: 0 Comments

By Ijeoma Olorunfemi Nigeria must align policy frameworks, infrastructure investment to harness the benefits of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT) and other emerging digital technologies in 2026. An ICT expert, Mr Jide Awe, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in AbujaContinue Reading

NAHCON records key milestones ahead of 2026 Hajj

By: Abdulrahman Kadiri

On: January 20, 2026

In: General News

With: 0 Comments

Hajj By Kadiri Abdulrahman Abuja, Jan. 20, 2026 (NAN) Prof. Abdullahi Usman, the Chairman/CEO of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), has concluded his second pre-Hajj visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. According to a statement by Ahmad Muazu, Technical Assistant (Media), Office of the NAHCON Chairman, thisContinue Reading

UN agencies warn against rising hunger, displacement at Davos Summit

By: Mark Longyen

On: January 20, 2026

In: Foreign

With: 0 Comments

By Cecilia Ologunagba New York, Jan. 20, 2026 (NAN) UN agencies have warned that rising hunger and displacement are not only humanitarian emergencies but growing threats to global economic stability. The agencies gave the warning amid the World Economic Forum holding in Davos, Switzerland, from Jan. 19 to 23, withContinue Reading

UN advocates universal abolition of death penalty

By: Mark Longyen

On: January 20, 2026

In: Foreign

With: 1 Comment

By Cecilia Ologunagba New York, Jan. 20, 2026 (NAN) UN human rights office (OHCHR) has advocated the universal abolition of death penalty, noting that 2025 saw an ‘alarming’ increase in executions in a small number of retentionist countries. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, ratified by 175 countries,Continue Reading

COAS charges troops on discipline, professionalism in Plateau operations

By: isaac aregbesola

On: January 20, 2026

In: General News

With: 0 Comments

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has charged troops of the 3 Division to remain disciplined, committed and professional, describing their role in addressing security challenges on the Plateau as critical to national stabilityContinue Reading

NEPC trains 96,000 exporters on capacity building

By: Tosin Kolade

On: January 20, 2026

In: Economy/Business

With: 0 Comments

By Vivian Emoni The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) says it conducted 728 capacity-building programmes in 2025, impacting 96,221 participants across its 36 state and regional offices nationwide. Dr Nonye Ayeni, Executive Director of the council disclosed this during a news conference, on Non-oil Export Performance and the 2026 Outlook,Continue Reading

Foundation urges immediate care for emergency patients

By: Tosin Kolade

On: January 20, 2026

In: General News

With: 0 Comments

By Alex Enebeli A US-based foundation, Quantus Medical Foundation (QMF) has urged hospital management across the country, to always accept emergency cases in a bid to save lives. Founder of QMF, Dr Nnenna Ihekoromadu, made the call during the flag off of “WeCare Nigeria Initiative” at the University of NigeriaContinue Reading

NEPC targets sustainable non-oil export growth in 2026

By: Funmilayo Adeyemi

On: January 20, 2026

In: Business

With: 0 Comments

By Vivian Emoni The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) says it is targeting effective, sustained growth in non-oil exports in 2026, citing reforms, market expansion and strengthened exporter development initiatives. Mrs Nonye Ayeni, Executive Director of NEPC said this at a news conference on the 2025 Non-Oil Export Performance andContinue Reading

Iran unrest responsible for sharp decline in Basmati rice prices – IREF

By: Mark Longyen

On: January 20, 2026

In: Foreign

With: 0 Comments

By Deji Abdulwahab Abuja, Jan. 19, 2026 (NAN) Indian Rice Exporters Federation (IREF) has attributed the sharp decline in Basmati rice prices to the escalating civil unrest and widespread protests in Iran. IREF said this in a statement on Monday, adding that the situation had created uncertainty across trade channelsContinue Reading

Norwegian PM reveals Trump letter dismissing peace, seeking control of Greenland

By: Mark Longyen

On: January 20, 2026

In: Foreign

With: 0 Comments

Oslo, Jan. 20, 2026 (Xinhua/NAN) Norwegian Prime Minister, Jonas Store on Monday confirmed that he received a letter from the United State President, Donald Trump, dismissing any obligation to think purely of peace. Store said that Trump also reaffirmed his desire to control Greenland. He said that the letter hadContinue Reading

Follows Us

Nigeria must align policy, investment to maximise AI, IoT benefits in 2026 – Expert (Page 89)