Former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim, has urged leaders and institutions to ensure that technological advancement protects human dignity rather than deepens exclusion and inequality.

Mr Anyim made the call on Saturday at the 2026 International Convention of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Alumni Association (NAUAA) in Abuja, with the theme: “Innovation, Integrity and Inclusion: Rekindling the Zik Vision for a New Era.”

He said rapid changes driven by the Fourth Industrial Revolution, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotics, biotechnology and other emerging technologies, required deliberate efforts to protect human dignity.

“There is no time in human history when the dignity of man has been so challenged as it is now.

“The benefits of technological revolution can only be achieved when innovation is guided by integrity and used to improve the lives of people.

“Integrity is not a title, integrity is rather a personality trait. Integrity is a virtue,” he said.

Mr Anyim challenged institutions and professionals to develop strategies to harness technological advancement while ensuring that its benefits were accessible to all.

In his keynote lecture, Ali Muhammad Ali, managing director, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said innovation should go beyond adopting new technologies to developing solutions to Nigeria’s specific challenges.

Mr Ali said Nigeria needed to move from being predominantly a market for other countries’ inventions to becoming a laboratory for solutions to its own problems.

“Information is power and a society that cannot inform itself cannot fully govern itself.

“Innovation is not simply about technology; it is the capacity to see possibilities where others see limitations and to turn ideas into solutions,” he said.

The NAN managing director said education should also focus more on knowledge creation, enterprise and societal impact, rather than merely acquiring certificates.

He said integrity was the “invisible infrastructure of development”, stressing that transparent rules, accountable leadership, credible institutions and responsible management of public resources were essential for sustainable progress.

In his remarks, Bond Anyaehie, Vice-Chancellor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, said the institution was implementing reforms aimed at improving students’ experiences and making its operations more efficient.

Mr Anyaehie said the university had introduced digital clearance, allowing students to complete the process remotely, while provisional certificates could be generated online after clearance.

He added that the institution had also digitised transcripts to reduce delays and improve access to academic records.

“We are growing a university that fits the name Nnamdi Azikiwe.

“The journey has started, but we can do more together,” he said.

Earlier, Ikechukwu Umeh, Global President of NAUAA, said the association was focusing on initiatives to support students, strengthen the university and create opportunities for younger graduates.

Mr Umeh said the association had instituted a scholarship programme that provided tuition support to 50 indigenous students, while mentorship programmes were being strengthened to connect students and young graduates with experienced alumni.

He said the association had also 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.

Mr Umeh urged alumni, branches, graduating sets and corporate partners to support the completion of the centre and other initiatives designed to strengthen the relationship between the association and the university. 

(NAN)