A Professor of Civil Engineering at Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa, Ondo State, Olumide Ogundipe, has urged governments at all levels to prioritise investment in smart technologies to reduce the devastating effects of climate change across the country.
Ogundipe made the call while delivering the keynote address at the second OAUSTECH International Conference on Engineering and Technology, where he spoke on the theme, "Smart Technologies for Climate Resilience and Adaptation."
The professor warned that climate change had become an immediate global challenge, with its consequences already evident in flooding, destruction of infrastructure, loss of lives, damage to farmlands and disruption of livelihoods.
Highlighting the scale of the crisis, he cited figures from the National Emergency Management Agency's November 2025 flood report, which showed that floods claimed 241 lives, injured 839 persons and affected more than 433,000 residents across 123 local government areas in 27 states.
He added that the disaster displaced over 144,000 people, damaged or destroyed more than 52,000 houses and affected nearly 75,000 hectares of farmland nationwide.
Ogundipe identified the May 2025 flash flood in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State as one of the country's worst disasters, noting that hundreds of people lost their lives while thousands of homes, schools, health facilities and farmlands were destroyed.
To strengthen the country's resilience, he advocated the deployment of weather forecasting applications, flood monitoring systems, rainfall radar, storm sensors and river-level monitoring technologies, alongside infrastructure designed to withstand extreme weather conditions.
He also stressed the need to equip citizens with digital skills and encourage the development of locally driven technologies capable of addressing environmental challenges.
Presenting the lead paper, Professor A. Yusuf of the University of South Africa called for the development of climate impact models and predictive scenarios to help governments make informed decisions on adaptation strategies.
He also urged greater public awareness on environmental protection, saying behavioural change remained essential in addressing the climate crisis.
Declaring the conference open, the Vice-Chancellor of OAUSTECH, Prof. Temi Ologunorisa, represented by the Dean of the School of Postgraduate Studies, Prof. Isaac Olaniyan, said universities must continue to drive research, innovation and collaboration to support sustainable climate action.
Also speaking, the Acting Dean of the School of Engineering and Engineering Technology, Dr Francis Elehinafe, described the conference as a platform for innovation, collaboration and practical solutions, urging governments, researchers and industry stakeholders to strengthen partnerships in tackling climate-related challenges.
The three-day conference attracted researchers, academics, professionals, policymakers and students from Nigeria and other countries.
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