Abuja:Former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim has urged leaders and institutions to ensure that technological advancements protect human dignity rather than exacerbate exclusion and inequality. He made this call at the 2026 International Convention of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Alumni Association (NAUAA) in Abuja, where the theme was ‘Innovation, Integrity and Inclusion: Rekindling the Zik Vision for a New Era.’
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Anyim emphasized the need for deliberate efforts to protect human dignity amidst rapid changes driven by the Fourth Industrial Revolution, including Artificial Intelligence, robotics, and biotechnology. He argued that the benefits of the technological revolution could only be achieved when innovation is guided by integrity to improve people’s lives.
Anyim challenged institutions and professionals to develop strategies that harness technological advancements while ensuring that their benefits are accessible to all. He highlighted that integrity is a vital personality trait and virtue necessary for guiding innovation.
In a keynote lecture, Malam Ali Muhammad Ali, Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria, stated that innovation should extend beyond adopting new technologies to developing solutions to Nigeria’s specific challenges. He urged the country to transition from being a market for other countries’ inventions to becoming a laboratory for its solutions.
Ali emphasized that information is power, and a society that cannot inform itself cannot fully govern itself. He highlighted that innovation is about the capacity to see possibilities where others see limitations and turning ideas into solutions. He also stressed that education should focus on knowledge creation, enterprise, and societal impact rather than just acquiring certificates.
Prof. Bond Anyaehie, Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, highlighted that the institution is implementing reforms to improve student experiences and operational efficiency. These reforms include introducing digital clearance and digitizing transcripts to reduce delays and improve access to academic records.
Prof. Ikechukwu Umeh, Global President of NAUAA, mentioned that the association is focusing on initiatives to support students, strengthen the university, and create opportunities for young graduates. These initiatives include a scholarship program for 50 indigenous students and mentorship programs connecting students and graduates with experienced alumni.
Umeh also noted that the association had established a temporary secretariat within the university and was working towards completing the Alumni Centre as a permanent hub for meetings, conferences, networking, and mentorship. He called for support from alumni, branches, graduating sets, and corporate partners to complete the centre and other initiatives to strengthen the relationship between the association and the university.