Olugbenga urges Nigerians to leverage AI to build a future where technology and energy work hand in hand
As Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing numerous industries, transforming the way businesses operate and make decisions, AI is said to become more pervasive with its integration into existing systems, as an energy expert, Olugbenga has urged Nigerians to leverage AI to build a future where technology and energy work hand in hand.
Oluwatoni Olugbenga, Energy, Tech/Project Leader gave the charge in a speech he delivered at the ICT Growth Conference 4.0 of the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters with the theme: “Impact of AI On National Development: Prospects, Policies, and Challenges in Nigeria” held at CitiHeight Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.
Olugbenga said that the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on national development is both profound and far-reaching, presenting us with unprecedented prospects, significant policy implications, and formidable challenges.
The impact of AI on national development, he said, hinges not only on the sophistication of the technology but also on the effectiveness of data governance, encompassing data quality, privacy, and cybersecurity.
He noted that stakeholders should acknowledge the critical intersection of AI with energy demand, especially in the context of the proliferation of data centers.
According to him, the rise of AI has led to an exponential increase in the volume of data being generated and processed, adding that this surge in data has fuelled the expansion of data centers, which are the backbone of AI infrastructure.
He pointed out that it is however crucial to recognize that this expansion comes with a significant surge in energy demand, noting that the operation of data centers, with their high-performance computing and cooling systems, places a substantial burden on our energy resources as well as poses a critical challenge in ensuring sustainable and efficient energy management.
Olugbenga, while citing Nigeria as a case study, says that it stands at a pivotal juncture where it can leverage the power of AI to drive national development while strategically addressing the energy implications.
According to its National AI Strategy (NAIS) document, the vision is “to be a global leader in harnessing the transformative power of AI through responsible, ethical, and inclusive innovation, fostering sustainable development through collaborative efforts.”
The energy expert stated that the recent global developments have confirmed that there is great power in the number of a group of people and much greater power in the number of a group of educated, informed, and energetic people, stressing that with a burgeoning tech sector and a youthful, tech-savvy population, Nigeria has the potential to harness AI for diverse applications, ranging from optimizing agricultural general productivity and healthcare delivery to enhancing urban infrastructure and financial services.
He stated further, however, that proper data governance is paramount as the nation positions itself to leverage AI for national development.
“Establishing policies and mechanisms to uphold data quality, protect data privacy, and fortify cybersecurity infrastructure is indispensable to engender trust, foster innovation, and safeguard national interests in the digital age.
“Moreover, a strong political will is indispensable in fostering technological leadership by nurturing an innovation-friendly ecosystem, incentivizing research and development in AI and energy technologies, and fostering collaboration between the public and private sectors to drive effective implementation. “Based on experience, it is true that the Nigerian government can work when it wants to. It is also true that the Nigerian people were born ready! I am optimistic that Nigeria can emerge as a leader in harnessing the transformative potential of AI while ensuring a sustainable and resilient energy ecosystem,” he emphasized.
He maintained that to effectively manage the increasing energy demand driven by AI, Nigeria can adopt a multifaceted approach, noting that this approach entails investing in energy-efficient infrastructure for data centers, leveraging renewable energy sources, implementing smart grid technologies, and promoting energy conservation measures.
By integrating AI into energy management systems, he said, Nigeria can optimize energy distribution, predict demand patterns, and enhance overall energy efficiency.
He opined that in the meantime, there is a need to accelerate the digital transformation of the energy sector and improve its capability to leverage AI.
He canvassed that the formulation of comprehensive policies and regulatory frameworks is imperative to guide the sustainable integration of AI and energy management.
“These policies should incentivize the adoption of energy-efficient technologies, promote research and development in renewable energy, and facilitate public-private partnerships to drive innovation in energy solutions. By championing a forward-looking policy agenda, Nigeria can position itself as a vanguard of technological innovation and a hub for sustainable AI-driven development,” Olugbenga added.
Olugbenga declared that “as we navigate the profound implications of AI on national development and energy demand, let us embrace a collective vision of leveraging AI to foster inclusive growth, empower our communities, and build a future where technology and energy work hand in hand to propel our nation forward.”
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