As floods, rising temperatures and extreme weather continue to threaten lives and livelihoods across Nigeria, engineering experts are warning that investing in smart technology can no longer wait.

Nigeria should urgently deploy smart technologies and strengthen local innovation to reduce the growing impact of climate change, experts have said at the Second International Conference on Engineering and Technology organised by Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH), Okitipupa.

The three-day conference, held from 15 to 17 June, brought together academics, engineers, researchers, policymakers and students from Nigeria and abroad to discuss practical solutions to climate-related challenges.

Why it matters

Nigeria has experienced increasingly severe flooding, erosion, heatwaves and changing rainfall patterns in recent years, damaging homes, roads, farms and businesses while threatening food security and economic growth.

Speaking during the conference, Professor of Civil Engineering, Prof. Olumide Ogundipe, said climate change is no longer a future concern but an immediate crisis requiring urgent action.

Delivering a keynote address titled “Smart Technologies for Climate Resilience and Adaptation,” he said communities across the country needed better technology to predict, monitor and respond to extreme weather.

Using figures from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)’s November 2025 flood dashboard, Prof. Ogundipe said the scale of recent disasters showed why action was needed.

“241 people died, 839 were injured, and 433,578 were affected across 123 LGAs in 27 states. We recorded 144,790 displaced persons, 52,509 houses damaged or destroyed, and 74,767 farmlands affected.”

He described the May 2025 flash floods in Tiffin Maza and Anguwan Hausawa in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State as one of Nigeria’s worst flood disasters.

“At least 500 people were confirmed killed, over 600 missing and presumed dead. The floods destroyed 4,000 houses, affected 45 schools, 44 health centres, and submerged 10,000 hectares of farmland,” Prof. Ogundipe stated.

Smart technology ‘can save lives’

Prof. Ogundipe said governments at federal, state and local levels should prioritise investments in modern technology capable of improving disaster preparedness and protecting vulnerable communities.

“We need weather apps, rainfall radar, storm and flood sensors, river-level monitors, and infrastructure designed for extreme conditions. We must also train citizens in basic digital skills and develop technologies suited to our communities,” he submitted.

He argued that combining engineering innovation with locally developed digital solutions would improve Nigeria’s ability to withstand future climate shocks.

Experts call for stronger environmental awareness

Presenting the lead paper, Prof. A. Yusuf of the University of South Africa urged governments and researchers to develop more accurate climate models for states and regions to improve planning.

He also stressed that technology alone would not solve the problem.

“Beyond technical tools, we must re-orient our people to be kind to the environment,” Prof. Yusuf said.

Environmental experts have long argued that early-warning systems, better urban planning and improved public awareness are essential for reducing climate-related risks, particularly in flood-prone communities.

University highlights role of research

Declaring the conference open, OAUSTECH Vice-Chancellor Prof. Temi Ologunorisa, represented by the Dean of the School of Postgraduate Studies, Prof. Isaac Olaniyan, said universities have an important responsibility to generate research that supports sustainable development.

“The climate-resilient future we want will not happen by chance. It requires the willingness to innovate, collaborate, and act decisively now.”

The Acting Dean of the School of Engineering and Engineering Technology, Dr Francis Elehinafe, described the conference as a platform for collaboration between researchers, government and industry.

“OICET 2026 was more than an academic event. It is a platform for rumination, innovation, and collaboration — a call for researchers to think differently, students to aspire, government to support, and young engineers to lead.”

He thanked the university management, sponsors, members of the organising committee and participants for contributing to the success of the event.

Industry perspective

Engineering professionals say climate-resilient infrastructure is becoming increasingly important as African countries face more frequent extreme weather events.

They argue that investments in digital monitoring systems, resilient construction methods and local engineering research could help reduce disaster losses while creating new opportunities for innovation and employment.

What’s next?

While the conference concluded with renewed calls for collaboration between government, academia and industry, participants said translating research into public policy would be critical.

Experts believe sustained investment in smart technology, stronger environmental education and better disaster planning could significantly improve Nigeria’s resilience to climate change in the coming years.

A senior executive at Union Bank of Nigeria has urged financial institutions to view agricultural financing as a key form of climate action, arguing that increased investment in farmers could strengthen food security, improve rural livelihoods and help communities adapt to worsening climate conditions.

Speaking in a World Environment Day commentary, Mannir U. Ringim, Executive Director for Business Banking at Union Bank, said climate change is increasingly being felt first through agriculture, making access to finance critical for farmers facing unpredictable weather patterns.

“In our part of the world, agricultural finance is climate finance,” Ringim said.

His comments come as governments, businesses and environmental groups worldwide mark World Environment Day 2026, themed “Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Our Future.”

Why It Matters

Across Nigeria and much of West Africa, farmers are grappling with delayed rainfall, prolonged droughts, severe flooding and land degradation.

According to Ringim, communities that have traditionally relied on seasonal weather patterns are finding it increasingly difficult to predict planting cycles as climate conditions become more volatile.

He argued that climate change should not be viewed solely as an environmental challenge but also as an economic and agricultural issue.

“The farmer who cannot plant because the rains failed, the trader who charges more because the harvest shrank, the young person who leaves the village because the farm no longer pays — all are responding to the same signal.”

Experts have long warned that climate-related disruptions to agriculture can drive food inflation, increase poverty and accelerate migration from rural communities.

Agriculture Remains Underserved by the Financial Sector

Despite agriculture employing millions of Nigerians and contributing significantly to economic activity, Ringim said the sector continues to receive a relatively small share of commercial bank lending.

He noted that lenders have traditionally viewed agriculture as high-risk because of its seasonal nature, limited collateral structures and vulnerability to weather-related shocks.

However, he argued that withholding capital from farmers makes climate adaptation more difficult.

“The farmer who cannot borrow cannot adapt.”

According to Ringim, farmers need financing to access drought-resistant seeds, irrigation systems, storage facilities and other technologies that can improve productivity and resilience.

New Financing Models Could Reduce Risk

Ringim said advances in agricultural finance are making the sector more attractive to lenders.

Among the approaches highlighted were:

– Value-chain financing

– Anchor borrower arrangements

– Warehouse receipt systems

– Weather-index insurance

– Mechanisation financing

– Irrigation funding

– Digital farm mapping and data-driven credit assessment

He argued that many risks associated with agriculture can be reduced through better financial design rather than simply avoiding the sector.

“Much of what we call agricultural risk is not a law of nature. It is a design problem, and design problems can be solved.”

Industry analysts have increasingly pointed to financial technology, satellite monitoring and agricultural insurance as tools capable of improving access to credit for smallholder farmers.

Climate Adaptation and Agricultural Lending Are Closely Linked

Ringim said investments that make agriculture more bankable are often the same investments needed to strengthen climate resilience.

These include:

– Irrigation infrastructure

– Improved seed varieties

– Soil restoration programmes

– Water management systems

– Agroforestry initiatives

– Post-harvest storage facilities

He said such investments help farmers withstand climate shocks while improving productivity and reducing food losses.

The executive also linked local agricultural financing to broader global climate goals, noting that climate finance should not be limited to international negotiations and carbon markets.

“Its most grounded form, for us, is the facility that enables a cooperative to drill a borehole or build a warehouse.”

Call for Public-Private Collaboration

Ringim stressed that agricultural transformation cannot be delivered by banks alone.

He called for stronger collaboration among governments, development finance institutions, insurers, agritech companies and commercial lenders.

He pointed to programmes such as the Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme and the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme as examples of efforts aimed at improving agricultural financing, while stressing the importance of transparency, accountability and measurable outcomes.

Development institutions, including the African Development Bank, have repeatedly identified agriculture as a critical sector for boosting economic growth and reducing poverty across the continent.

Opportunities Beyond Climate Challenges

While much of the climate discussion focuses on risks, Ringim said regions such as northern Nigeria and the wider Sahel also present significant economic opportunities.

He highlighted the area’s agricultural potential, established value chains and youthful workforce.

According to him, improved access to finance can transform agriculture from a survival strategy into a viable business opportunity, particularly for young people and women-led cooperatives.

“Agriculture stops being a fallback and becomes a future.”

Union Bank’s Position

Ringim said Union Bank increasingly views agricultural financing as part of the country’s climate resilience infrastructure.

The bank, which has operated in Nigeria for more than a century, believes financing agriculture should be regarded as a strategic investment rather than a charitable intervention.

“The most meaningful climate commitment our financial sector can make this World Environment Day is not a statement; it is a willingness to finance the land that feeds us, intelligently and at scale.”

He concluded by urging financial institutions to rethink how they allocate capital and support farmers facing the realities of climate change.

Nigeria’s retail lender, Unity Bank Plc, has called for increased investment in the green economy, warning that climate change is already reshaping livelihoods, businesses and national economies.

The call was made during an Earth Day webinar hosted by the bank, where climate experts stressed that adopting new technologies and sustainable financing models is key to building economic resilience across Africa.

Why it matters

Climate change is increasingly affecting food systems, energy access and infrastructure across the continent.

Experts say without urgent investment in renewable energy, climate technology and sustainable systems, vulnerable communities will continue to bear the greatest burden.

“An existential threat”

Speaking at the event, Unity Bank’s Head of Strategy and Innovation, Ibukun Coker, said climate change is no longer a distant concern.

“Climate change is no longer a distant or abstract challenge. It is an existential threat with direct consequences for individuals, businesses, and economies,” he said.

“At Unity Bank, we recognise the role institutions must play in incorporating sustainability in project financing, supporting businesses and promoting solutions that build resilience in communities where we operate.”

His comments reflect a growing shift among financial institutions to integrate environmental considerations into lending and investment decisions.

Unequal burden on vulnerable communities

Climate experts at the webinar highlighted how poorer communities are disproportionately affected by environmental changes.

Chinwe Udo-Davis, founder of clean energy company Instollar, said access to sustainable solutions remains uneven.

“The true cost of climate change is not evenly distributed. Communities with the least resources are often the most affected,” she said.

“Addressing this imbalance requires intentional investment in clean energy solutions that are both accessible and scalable.”

Her remarks point to the urgent need for inclusive energy systems, especially in regions facing energy poverty.

Innovation and policy must align

Oluwatosin Ajide of the Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre stressed that tackling climate change requires coordinated action across sectors.

“Climate change is fundamentally a structural problem, and its solution requires a paradigm shift: from innovation and policy to financing and implementation,” Ajide said.

“Stakeholders must work collaboratively to drive solutions that are sustainable and inclusive.”

Industry perspective

The discussions also highlighted emerging opportunities in climate technology, renewable energy and ecosystem financing.

Analysts say Africa’s green economy could unlock jobs, improve energy access and strengthen long-term economic stability if properly funded.

However, challenges such as limited financing, policy gaps and infrastructure deficits remain significant barriers.

What’s next

Unity Bank says it will continue to promote sustainability-focused initiatives and support businesses adopting environmentally responsible practices.

The lender’s push aligns with a broader trend among financial institutions seeking to balance profitability with environmental and social impact.