The University of Portsmouth, United Kingdom, delivered a lecture on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, through Dr Sam Kadiri of its School of Environment and Life Sciences, highlighting the indispensability of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in managing solid waste and building an innovative and sustainable environment.
The lecture, organised by the Centre for Environmental Human Resources Development (CENHURD) in collaboration with the Department of Marine Sciences at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), was held in a hybrid format. It attracted a diverse range of participants, including academics, researchers, representatives from environmental agencies, industry stakeholders, and students.
Speaking virtually, Dr Kadiri highlighted the urgent need to deploy intelligent systems in solid waste management as part of broader efforts to decarbonise and mitigate the effects of climate change. He underscored the potential of AI-powered solutions—such as intelligent waste classification and sorting, predictive analytics, and optimised logistics—to address hazards associated with conventional waste disposal methods.
While commending Nigeria for leading the continent in AI awareness and adoption, he voiced concern about the growing volume of solid waste and the inadequacies of current management systems, which he described as harmful to the environment.
Dr Kadiri called for the full integration of AI and related technologies into the waste management sector to support decarbonisation goals. He also advocated a carbon-neutral economy, in which the amount of greenhouse gases emitted is offset by the amount removed from the atmosphere.
He further recommended the development of strategic government policies, stronger public-private partnerships, capacity-building initiatives, and a review of educational curricula to enhance the integration and application of AI in waste management.
In his opening remarks, Professor Lucian Obinna Chukwu, Director and Team Lead of CENHURD and immediate past Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Management Services) at the University of Lagos, described the lecture as a significant reflection of the growing convergence between emerging technologies and environmental management.
Professor Chukwu emphasised the importance of rethinking waste, not as a burden but as a data-rich asset capable of fuelling a low-carbon circular economy. “The lecture is not just about technology,” he said. “It is about vision—a vision where Nigeria leads in climate-smart urban development, using AI not just to manage waste but to transform it into value.”
The lecture concluded with an engaging question-and-answer session that provided a platform for participants to discuss local challenges in deploying AI solutions for waste management, including data limitations, inadequate funding, and policy inconsistencies.
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