Tag Archives: Network

AI to the Rescue: Engineers Target Nigeria’s 200,000km Road Network

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By Agbo Fidelis

Nigeria’s 200,000-kilometre road network may be heading for a technological overhaul as engineers and other stakeholders push for the accelerated deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to tackle persistent challenges of road maintenance, congestion, flooding, erosion and safety.

The call was made on Monday in Abuja at an international training on AI Applications for Road Management, organized by the Nigerian Institution of Highway and Transportation Engineers (NIHTE) in partnership with the International Road Federation (IRF). 

The program attracted engineers, government officials, regulators, development agencies and industry experts seeking technology-driven solutions for safer, smarter and more climate-resilient roads.

Acting National Chairman of NIHTE, Bola Mudasiru, said the scale and complexity of Nigeria’s road infrastructure had made conventional approaches to road management increasingly inadequate. 

He said AI could transform the entire life cycle of road infrastructure through predictive maintenance, traffic optimization, asset management, improved safety and climate resilience.

Mudasiru said AI-powered systems could enable engineers to anticipate road deterioration and predict flooding and erosion patterns before they become major threats. 

Such technologies, he explained, would allow authorities to move from reacting to road failures to preventing them and designing infrastructure better suited to the realities of climate change. 

He, however, stressed that transparency, ethics, data privacy and sustainability must guide AI adoption.

Martins Van gills of the IRF said the organization, which brings together experts from academia, government and the private sector in more than 130 countries, was committed to sharing innovations and practical case studies.

He acknowledged AI’s growing role in infrastructure but stressed that “human intelligence will remain indispensable in engineering,” insisting that technology should support rather than replace professional expertise.

Immediate Past NIHTE Chairman, Hassan Saidu, said the institution’s partnership with IRF, which began about 10 years ago, had enabled Nigerian professionals to access international training in areas such as road safety, asset management and performance-based contracts without the cost of travelling abroad.

President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers and Chairman of the occasion, Ali Alimasuya Rabiu, described AI as a force already reshaping infrastructure planning worldwide. 

He said the technology was revolutionising predictive maintenance, traffic management, pavement monitoring and transport safety, while urging government to give indigenous engineering firms greater opportunities to execute major projects, create jobs and promote technology transfer.

Rabiu also commended the Minister of State for Works for sponsoring 25 ministry officials to attend an engineering conference in Glasgow, United Kingdom, saying continued exposure to international best practices would strengthen the capacity of Nigerian professionals.

Minister of Regional Development, Abubakar Momoh, said roads remain vital to connecting communities with markets, schools, healthcare facilities and farms, as well as driving investment and national integration. 

He said government was investing in roads and bridges but must ensure that existing assets were properly monitored and maintained, adding that AI could help detect defects, predict deterioration and deploy scarce resources more efficiently.

Representing the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), Bukar Gana said the World Bank- and French Development Agency-supported project had digitised more than 100,000 kilometres of rural roads through the Nigeria Rural Infrastructure Management System. 

He said the platform captures road conditions, pavement types, bridges and community data to guide maintenance priorities, adding that RAAMP was exploring how AI could further strengthen rural road planning.

President of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Sadiq Zubair Abubakar, urged Nigerian engineers to become AI-competent to remain relevant, saying the technology could shift the sector from costly reactive repairs to proactive and predictive maintenance. 

He nevertheless cautioned against over-reliance on AI, stressing that ethics, accountability and cost-effectiveness must remain at the heart of engineering decisions and calling for more specialised training to bridge knowledge gaps.

In his vote of thanks, the Planning Committee Chairman, Isa Emoabino, said the workshop was designed to narrow knowledge gaps among practitioners and expose engineers to practical applications of AI. 

He urged participants to engage actively with the trainers and translate the knowledge gained into practical solutions capable of delivering safer, smarter and more sustainable roads across Nigeria.

V.C announces registration of UNIPORT into African Agribusiness Incubators Network

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By Samuel Godspower, UNIPORT

The University of Port Harcourt has been admitted into the African Agribusiness Incubators Network (AAIN), marking a major step in the institution’s contribution to agricultural innovation and enterprise development on the continent. 

The announcement was made by the Vice Chancellor of the University Owunari Abraham Georgewill, through his official social media handle, where he described the development as a recognition of UniPort’s growing role in agribusiness research and capacity building.

According to the Vice Chancellor, the institution was “considered and adjudged qualified to become a member of the AAIN” following the submission of its proposal in Gaborone, Botswana. 

He credited the achievement to the efforts of the Transforming African Agricultural Universities to Meaningfully Contribute to Africa’s Growth and Development (TAGDev 2.0) Programme at UniPort, led by its Coordinator, Ibisime Etela. 

The Vice Chancellor stated that “the resilience of the TAGDev 2.0 Program Coordinator, Professor Ibisime Etela, convinced us to submit the necessary proposals and documents for the bid in Botswana,” adding that the successful outcome was a collective milestone for the university.

AAIN is a continental network that supports universities and institutions across Africa in building and strengthening agribusiness incubators. Public information from the organisation describes it as a catalyst for job creation, enterprise development and innovation within the agricultural sector. 

The network currently works with more than 150 universities and development institutions, helping them transform agricultural ideas and research outputs into viable agribusiness solutions. 

UniPort’s entry into the network places it among institutions positioned to benefit from incubation frameworks, training opportunities, mentorship connections, enterprise development support and partnerships with other agribusiness stakeholders.

Correspondent gathered that the development aligns with UniPort’s goals under the TAGDev 2.0 programme, which is supported by major continental partners and seeks to transform agricultural education to produce entrepreneurial graduates capable of creating sustainable agrifood systems. 

The programme boasts a particular focus on strengthening Nigeria’s agricultural value chains, including rice production and food-systems innovation. Membership in AAIN is expected to expand the university’s capacity to translate research into practical agribusiness ventures, support student and youth enterprises and enhance local economic development through agriculture.

Observers note that the move could open up new opportunities for collaboration with other African universities, attract agricultural investment and deepen the university’s engagement with community-based agribusiness initiatives in the Niger Delta. 

It may also improve access to training resources and innovation support systems that help young entrepreneurs develop sustainable agribusiness ideas.

With this recognition from AAIN, UniPort is poised to strengthen its contribution to national and continental development through agricultural innovation. The university community has welcomed the news, which the Vice Chancellor described as a collective success for the institution.

Anambra  Govt to partner Tourism Volunteers Network  for Picnic, Funfair with families 

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By Cyprian  Ebele, Onitsha

Anambra Ministry of Culture, Entertainment and Tourism, disclosed that it will partner the Tourism Volunteers Network, Anambra Chapter, to host a grand Picnic and Funfair to promote  recreation habits amongst the public.

Mr Don Onyenji,Anambra Commissioner for Culture,  Entertainment and Tourism made this disclosure during a meeting with the executives of Volunteer Network Anambra chapter in his  Jerome Udoji office, Awka, state capital  and called on Anambra public to develop the habit of taking a rest after hard day’s job to gain longevity. 

 Onyenji noted that the program was necessitated by the ministry’s desire to promote healthy living through relaxation and fun making with families and friends to build stronger family ties.

He said that the upcoming events are inline with the ideals of Gov.Charles Soludo’s manifesto to develop the state into a prosperous mega smart-city, attracting people for business, living, and leisure for the common good of all.

The Commissioner  said that the groundbreaking of the  event will take place at the Anambra Film Village located behind the Kenneth Dike Library  on Sunday, 13th October.

According to him the event will feature cultural kids’ ballet dancers, exciting games such as ludo, Ncho, tug of war, and more, as well as cultural musical entertainers. 

Onyenji assured that the attendees would  also enjoy local cuisine including roasted plantain/yam and sauce, African salad (abacha), palm wine and a variety of other side attractions.

“The Solution government is transforming Anambra into a place of leisure and relaxation through the ongoing construction of the Solution Fun City, Solution Neighborhood Leisure Park, and other notable projects aimed at enhancing relaxation. 

“These developments will brighten up the state and increase the number of tourists visiting the area,”Onyenji assured.

The Commissioner  invites the public, especially parents to come with their children and enjoy the cultural fiesta for their relaxation and longevity.

Speaking, The Executive State Coordinator and Chairman of the Planning Committee of Anambra Tourism Volunteers Network, Ms. Chinazom Okey-Umeh, explained that the upcoming event will be a unique one in the state.. 

Okey-Umeh assured that the program will feature a variety of exciting activities, including old-school cultural games, cultural kids’ ballet dancers, cultural musical entertainers, local cuisine, among others.

“We utilise our network to promote tourism and showcase it to the world to attract investors and tourists to the state, create job opportunities and boost the state’s internal revenue generation,” she stated 

She then urged all parents to bring their kids and swimming trunks to the picnic and funfair on October 13 as there are children’s swimming pools, a kiddie section, and more for relaxation and entertainment.

Recall that Anambra government has earlier advised the residents to create various facilities for their relaxation and recreation so as to live a healthy life.

 Consequently the state government in partnership with industrialists in tourism and entertainment industries are constructing sites for public leisure. 

“Anambra Christmas Village, with Descendants Fortune Investments Ltd and Soulcity Obosi Tourism Town Smart City ,with Soulcity Integrated Resource LTD, amongst others, are some of the entertainment partners.