Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Guardian Nigeria
Published on 2024-03-04 03:10:22
During the investiture ceremony of the fourth National Chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Safety Engineers (NISafetyE), Oluseun Faluyi, in Lagos, experts highlighted the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Safety Engineering to mitigate accidents and reduce the risk of losses through decision support, incident prediction, and prevention.
Keynote Speaker, Engineer Adeyemi Adetunji, emphasized the role of the engineering profession in improving the quality of life and living conditions. However, he noted that Nigeria’s engineering sector faces challenges due to a poor regulatory environment and harsh socio-economic conditions. Adetunji also addressed the state of safety engineering in the country, pointing out that Nigeria’s progress is often hindered by procrastination and a lack of implementation of key initiatives such as Vision 2010 and Vision 2020.
Explaining the concept of safety engineering to the attendees, Adetunji described it as the practice of designing workplaces to minimize accidents and ensure safety in the use of systems, assets, projects, and all engineering elements to minimize the risk of losses. He attributed the frequent incidents of building collapses and road mishaps to negligence and complicity, emphasizing that solutions exist but are often ignored.
Margaret Oguntola, President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), highlighted the growing importance of Artificial Intelligence in addressing various challenges in the economy. She emphasized that AI could significantly improve performance in the engineering sector and play a critical role in enhancing security in Nigeria. In line with this, she expressed optimism about the potential of AI to transform safety practices and protect lives and properties in the country.
In his acceptance speech, newly inaugurated chairman Oluseun Faluyi reiterated the sector’s commitment to promoting safety practices to safeguard lives and properties in Nigeria. He pledged to prioritize this goal during his tenure and work towards its realization.
Overall, the discussions at the event underscored the crucial role of Artificial Intelligence in Safety Engineering and its potential to enhance decision-making, predict and prevent incidents, and ultimately reduce the risk of accidents and losses. The speakers emphasized the need for proactive measures to address challenges in the engineering sector, particularly in terms of safety practices, implementation of key initiatives, and leveraging technological advancements such as AI. Looking ahead, it is evident that AI will continue to play a significant role in shaping the future of safety engineering in Nigeria and beyond.
