By Mashe Umaru Gwamna
Secretary to the Government of Federation, Dr. George Akume has said that the integration of Artificial Intelligence (Al) and predictive analytics into environmental health operations will offer a transformative opportunity to anticipate, prevent, and respond more effectively to these complex issues.
He stated this yesterday while declaring open a three day workshop tagged: “AI Driven Operations and Predictive Analytics :Building a Safor, Healthier, and Sustainable Nation”.
The event was organized by Environmental Health Council of Nigeria ( EHCON) in collaboration with Afri Tourism Investment LTD yesterday in Abuja.
Akume who was represented by Director Political and Economic Affairs, Ifok Abia, stated that Artificial Intelligence is now shaping environment through monitoring, managing, and improvements through predictive analytics which will enhance emergency responses to natural disasters.
“AI can anticipate disease outbreaks, detect pollution patterns, optimise waste management in our society”.
Speaking further , he maintained that, “we live in an era defined by rapid technological advancement and environmental uncertainty.
“The global community is grappling with climate change, pollution, waste mismanagement, disease outbreaks, and other public health threats that transcend borders”.
He explained that in Nigeria, these challenges arise from urban congestion, indiscriminate waste disposal, flooding, and environmental degradation all of which directly affect the heaith productivity, and well-being of our people”.
According to him the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has placed a premium on sustainable growth, human capital development, and public health security .
“The agenda envisions a Nigeria where every citizen lives in a clean, healthy, and safe environment-one that promotes productivity and prosperity”, he stated .
He commended EHCON and its partners for taking the initiative to train professionals and build the competence required to integrate modern technology into environmental health practice.
“This training workshop represents a proactive step towards national preparedness in the digital age”.
Similarly,The Permeant Secretary Environment , Mahmud Kambar
said we must harness the power of AI for a greater good of the nation
Kambar noted that Ai will help improved our fundamental environmental health by enhancing in environmental health operations. We will reduce costs and improve outcomes for businesses and citizens
“ Al have come to stay, it tools are effective and our ultimate goal is to improve lives of all Nigeria . By creating a safer and healthier environment through artificial intelligence AI-driven operations.
“This aligns with the administration’s broader health reforms which seek to increase access to quality healthcare for all citizens “, he added.
Also In his Keynote Speaker Department of Information and Design, Cape Peninsula University of Technology Cape Town, South Africa, Dr Adeyemi Ajibesin said that there is a need for stakeholders collaboration in Sub- framework for Ai implementation.
“ This framework helps organize the complex relationships between the environment and human health in a systematic way”.
He said that Ai will help us to predict what will happen in future with frame work proposed.
“ We need to have a proactive nation not reactive nation “.
He recommended the need for driven public reforms. Advancing environmental health out come through national adaptation driven tools and predictive .
“ With Ai there will be sustainable economic growth and creation and good governance and data “.
Earlier, the Convener of the workshop, Chairman Environmental Health Council of Nigeria, Hon Ibrahim Tukur EL-Sudi in his welcome speech said that AI is a game changer for environmental health .
“ It will allow us to move from reactive measures to proactive interventions”.
He said for a healthier population “Ai can analyze environmental monitoring data along public health records to identify all risk populations and predict disease outcomes breaks related to environmental factors, such as poor air or water quality. This enables us to issue early warning and implement targeted interventions “.
EL-Sudi said that Ai will also empowered environmental officers to Ai driven tools that can automate routine tasks like data entry and analysis, freeing our environmental health officers to focus on more complex , on the ground issues and community engagement.
