The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Fatai Buhari, has sounded the call for a digital transformation in the Nigerian aviation industry.
In his keynote address at the close of a two-day Edge Technology Conference on Artificial Intelligence, orgasmed by the American University of Technology, Ibadan,Buhari who is currently representing Oyo North Senatorial District in the red chamber, highlighted the urgency of adopting AI and other cutting-edge technologies to revolutionize the industry’s operations.
Speaking to an audience of technology experts in Ibadan, Buhari emphasized that the aviation industry is at a crucial moment where AI and digital technologies can offer solutions to the challenges that hinder its full potential.
Buhari stressed that AI and digital technologies can help the industry improve efficiency, enhance safety protocols, personalize customer experiences, and discover new avenues for revenue generation.
He also underscored his firsthand experience with technology’s transformative potential in shaping the country’s airspace and creating new growth opportunities.
Buhari said: “We are at a critical juncture where artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies are poised to revolutionize how we operate, manage, and innovate within the industry.”
“Nigeria’s aviation industry is a cornerstone of our national economy, connecting people, businesses, and cultures across vast distances. Yet, we face persistent challenges that have hindered our full potential.”
“These challenges include aging infrastructure, inefficient processes, safety concerns, limited access to global markets, and a lack of skilled personnel.”
“AI-powered digital transformation offers a beacon of hope, a pathway to overcoming these obstacles and propelling our aviation sector into a new era of efficiency, safety, and competitiveness.”
“By harnessing the power of AI, we can optimize operations, enhance safety protocols, personalize customer experiences, and unlock new avenues for revenue generation,” he said.
While emphasising on the pivotal role of AI-powered digital transformation in the country’s aviation industry, the lawmaker said he had witnessed firsthand the transformative potential of technology in reshaping the country’s airspace and unlocking new frontiers of growth.
According to him, the theme of the conference, “AI-powered Digital Transformation Strategies,” could not be more timely or relevant to the Nigerian aviation sector.
The three-term lawmaker and a former Senate Committee Chairman on ICT further said the country is at a critical period where AI and digital technologies has become a compelling necessity for the growth of the aviation industry.
The convener and Director of Programmes, American University of Technology, Dr Seyi Akanbi, explained that the Edge Conference is aimed at educating people on how to leverage power of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, machine learning algorithm
Akanbi said the conference, aims to help people move from the current level they are to a place of importance in their career
” We want to give them hands on tools ultimately information on the subject matter on how they can leverage it either as individuals or corporate organisations on how they can leverage the power of AI in their businesses.
“We want to find a way of contributing to the society, we don’t want to be part of the people complaining that things are not working, we want to find a way to see how we can make things happen, there is no perfect situation, we only have people that care about the country that wish to impact and this is how we can give back by helping people and see how we can contribute to whatever the government is doing and there aspirations.
The Acting Registrar of the ATECH, Mr Olubukola Adio, disclosed that over 1000 participants have been trained on AI by the annual Edge Conference which began last year.
Adio hinted that the ATECH is poised to provide open online education for students on technology courses across the world defiling the barriers that impeded the running of open universities.
Some of the participants , Frank Egwadikhide and Dr( Mrs)Ibijoke Omole -Akerele both Fellows of the ARTECH Post Graduate Fellowship in Technology Entrepreneurship, described the conference as incisive urging professionals in all fields of human endeavors to leverage on AI to excel.
