By Isqil Najim
The CEO SOTEch Africa, Engr. Seton Senu has called on engineering community to a transition from being mere installers of foreign technology to becoming architects of local artificial intelligence and smart system solutions.
Engr. Senu was speaking on the topic “Using Artificial Intelligence & Smart Systems to Solve Nigeria’s Challenges,” at a Monthly technical session organized by the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), (Proposed) Agbara-Igbesa Branch on January 28 2026.
He warned that Nigeria can no longer afford to be a nation of mere technology installers. Instead, he suggested that the country must move toward becoming a hub for indigenous innovation that adapts global advancements to the unique challenges of the Nigerian landscape.
Senu provided a clear distinction between basic automation and true artificial intelligence. He explained that while smart systems use sensors and data to automate tasks, AI incorporates human-like decision-making.
According to Senu, the global AI market will reach $1 trillion by 2030, while the smart home market in Nigeria alone is expected to hit $284.6 million by 2025. He explained how AI can allow for remote monitoring of fifty homes simultaneously, identifying overheating batteries before they fail.
He listed several critical areas where AI could provide immediate relief to Nigeria’s most pressing challenges. For example, In power sector, he said that an AI-driven predictive maintenance and smart meters could reduce the frequent transformer failures and energy theft currently crippling the sector. He also mentioned the roles of facial recognition for urban safety and AI diagnostic tools in health sector.
He pointed out that the perennial traffic problems in the Agbara industrial corridor are symptoms of a lack of proactive planning and AI-driven management. Similarly, Lagos is losing an estimated N4 trillion annually to traffic congestion. He proposed AI-powered traffic management and predictive routing for transit systems as a vital economic recovery tool. He explained how AI-enabled CCTV could monitor public infrastructure, such as the 3rd Mainland Bridge.
In waste management, he cited his recent trip to Copenhagen, Denmark, with the NSE, where a waste-to-energy plant actually exports energy to other countries. He lamented that while Nigerian streets are often filled with waste, it remains a resource left untapped due to a lack of local recycling technology.
“Engineers no longer design alone,” he stressed, adding that “We must design solutions that can anticipate problems and provide safeguards in the near future.”
“Nigerian engineers must now stop only importing technology, we should start developing local solutions. ” He said. “whatever solution you are seeing there (in other countries), you have to come back and look at how you are going to adapt it to your own use.”
Senu revealed that his team is developing AI-driven solutions to optimize emergency responses, with Ogun State being the next target. He encouraged the engineers to sharpen their technical tools, but warned that technical skill is useless without good communication. He advised his colleagues to speak the language the client understands rather than hiding behind complex engineering jargon.
However, he emphasized that for engineering solutions to be effective, practitioners must collaborate with the government to create the right environment adding that one can only achieve much in right environment.
He used the opportunity to address general fear regarding job security in the age of automation and Artificial Intelligence. He provided a reassuring perspective that “AI is not here to replace engineers; it is here to make engineers more powerful.”
He reminded the audience that excellence is the only currency that opens doors on a global scale. He rejected the notion that innovation is exclusive to the West, declaring that the next great technological breakthrough can emerge from local industrial hubs.
“When you master your craft, opportunities and influence will naturally seek you out,” He concluded.
Earlier in her address, the Protem Chairman of the (Proposed) Agbara-Igbesa Branch, Engr. Dr. Habibat Adepeju Adebimpe, welcomed the participants by highlighting that, while the branch is still undergoing the National NSE review process, it is already laying a visionary foundation for the future.
Dr. Adebimpe announced that meetings will now be held at the Agbara Fire Service Station on the last Thursday of every month (4:00 PM – 6:00 PM). This was achieved through the support of the Honourable Engr. Akinosi. She also updated on the latest development on the pathway to official inauguration with expectations to facilitate the ceremony before the end of Q2 2026. She urged members to act as ambassadors by inviting colleagues and associates to join in building the “innovation branch.”
On the choice of topic, She said “Agbara, as we know, is a thriving industrial hub, home to factories, businesses, and a growing population. This environment requires urgent intervention from engineers. With the application of artificial intelligence and smart systems”
She drew attention to the urgent need for environmental stewardship, citing recent observations of local disinfectant and food companies discharging untreated wastewater directly into the environment.
“This practice is harmful, uncalled for, and unacceptable,” she declared, asserting that the establishment of the Agbara-Igbesa branch is a strategic step “toward ensuring that we, as engineers, rise to our responsibility…and providing sustainable solutions to our immediate surroundings.”
“Let us contribute immensely to our communities. Let us show that engineering is not just a profession, but a calling to serve the society.” she said.
To join the NSE Agbara Igbesa Branch, kindly fill the application form [ HERE] or email [email protected]