Urge firms to embrace AI in bridging talent gaps, redefine workplace 

Experts have cautioned that Nigeria risks worsening climate impacts, resource depletion and public health crises if it fails to harness Artificial Intelligence (AI) for environmental management.
 
The warning came during the eighth memorial lecture of the late Samuel Olatunde Fadahunsi, themed “Artificial Intelligence, Stakeholders’ Roles and Sustainable Environment: The Opportunities Ahead,” which was organised by the Nigerian Institution of Environmental Engineers (NIEE), a division of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), in Lagos.
 
The event gathered engineers, academics, policymakers, industry players and students at the NIEE Secretariat and Environmental Engineering Technology Resource Centre.
 
In his keynote lecture, Head of the Sustainable Procurement, Prof. James Akanmu, of the Environmental and Social Standards Centre of Excellence, University of Lagos, said the scale and speed of environmental degradation demand data-driven solutions that traditional methods could no longer provide.
 
Akanmu identified key stakeholders in environmental sustainability to include governments, the private sector, academia, non-governmental organisations, communities and project proponents, urged them to embrace circular economy principles of reuse, recycling and repurposing.

He stressed that Nigeria’s commitments under the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Standards must translate into enforceable legislation, effective monitoring and measurable results.

However, the NIEE National Chairman, Nureni Adegboyega Ogunyemi, said the lecture remains “a vibrant platform for knowledge exchange, inspiration and collective action” to tackle environmental challenges.
 
Ogunyemi also inaugurated the institution’s new Secretariat and Technology Resource Centre, describing it as a hub for innovation, research and collaboration among engineers and other stakeholders.
 
Also, the past NSE President, Ademola Olorunfemi, who represented the NSE President, Margaret Oguntala, said engineers must lead in adopting AI, drones and modern monitoring tools for environmental protection, climate adaptation and sustainable urban planning.
 
Relatedly, experts have stressed the urgency for organisations in Nigeria to leverage AI to bridge talent gaps, redefine employee experience, and align workplace policies with the demands of a rapidly evolving workforce.

They made that call at the third edition of Phillips Consulting (PCL) Talent Management Series held in Lagos with the theme: “Future Forward Human Resource (HR) – Explore the AI Experience in HR.”
 
The keynote speaker, who is the Co-Founder/Chief Executive Officer of MuchSkills, Daniel Nilsson, highlighted the global skills explosion, emphasising that organisations must move beyond job titles to focus on people’s strengths. 
 
He noted that companies adopting a skill-based approach are more competitive, efficient and better prepared for the future of work.
 
The Chief Operating Officer of PCL, Olawanle Moronkeji, stressed that the rapid changes in technology had positioned AI to reshape organisations globally.
 
He, therefore, charged leaders to ensure the disruption created by AI fosters opportunity, fairness and growth across industries.
 
Also, the Head, Business Operations & Employee Relations, Phillips Outsourcing Limited, Felicia Ebhohimen, emphasised that organisations embracing the technology explosion and adapting to shifting skills would remain agile, efficient, and people-centric in the evolving world of work.
 
She described Future Forward HR as a progressive, strategic, and tech-enabled approach to managing people.