The Federal Government has called for the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into environmental health operations to enhance national safety and economic development.
Sen. George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), made the appeal on Wednesday at a four-day National Workshop and Training organized by the Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON) in Abuja. The training, held in collaboration with Afri Tourism Investment Ltd, focused on “AI-Driven Operations and Predictive Analytics: Building a Safer, Healthier and Sustainable Nation.”
Akume was represented at the event by Mr Ifiok Abia, Director of Political and Economic Affairs in the SGF’s office.
He said AI adoption must be guided by inclusive, transparency, and accountability to ensure that no community is left behind in Nigeria’s digital transformation.
“AI is shaping how societies monitor, manage, and improve their environments,” he said. Akume noted that predictive analytics can anticipate disease outbreaks, detect pollution, optimist waste management, and improve emergency responses to disasters.
He stressed that AI adoption aligns with key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including health (SDG 3), clean water and sanitation (SDG 6), and sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11). However, he emphasized that technology alone is insufficient, highlighting the importance of human capacity, regulatory readiness, and ethical governance.
Akume commended EHCON and its 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. He linked the initiative to the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, which prioritizes sustainable growth, human capital development, and public health security.
The SGF 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.
