AVEVA targets Nigeria’s industrial future with AI, digital tech

As Nigeria’s industrial sector faces mounting pressure to improve efficiency, reduce emissions and maximise returns from energy investments, global industrial software company AVEVA is positioning artificial intelligence and digital technologies as critical tools for the next phase of industrial growth.

The company will host the maiden edition of AVEVA Day Nigeria on June 11, 2026, in Lagos, bringing together industry leaders, engineers, technology experts, energy operators and policymakers to explore how digital innovation can transform Nigeria’s industrial landscape.

The event, themed “Driving the Transformation: Leveraging Digital Technologies and AI to Achieve Operational Excellence, Increase Efficiency and Reduce Emissions,” comes at a time when many operators across Nigeria’s oil, gas, power and manufacturing sectors are seeking ways to lower operational costs, improve asset performance and meet growing sustainability expectations.

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Industry experts note that while Nigeria possesses vast energy resources and industrial potential, many facilities continue to grapple with aging infrastructure, operational inefficiencies and rising maintenance costs. This has increased interest in technologies such as industrial artificial intelligence, digital twins and cloud-based industrial platforms that can provide real-time insights and predictive intelligence.

Speaking ahead of the event, Khaled Salah, AVEVA’s vice president for Africa, described Nigeria as one of the most dynamic industrial markets in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, saying companies can no longer rely solely on traditional operating models to remain competitive.

According to him, digital twins, industrial AI and connected ecosystems are becoming central to industrial transformation strategies worldwide, helping organisations improve efficiency, strengthen resilience and achieve sustainability targets. He said AVEVA Day Nigeria is designed to bring global expertise closer to local industry stakeholders while demonstrating how the convergence of AI and industrial software can help Nigerian enterprises compete on a global scale.

The significance of the event extends beyond technology discussions. Analysts believe digital transformation has become increasingly important as Nigeria pursues gas monetisation projects, expands power infrastructure and seeks to attract more industrial investment.

The ability to monitor assets remotely, predict equipment failures before they occur and optimise operations through data analytics could help operators reduce downtime and improve profitability.

Hanno Van Niekerk, AVEVA’s market leader for Sub-Saharan Africa, said Nigeria has the resources, scale and industrial ambition needed to emerge as a leading energy and industrial hub on the continent. He noted that ongoing investments in energy and industrial infrastructure create opportunities for technology-driven growth that can support economic development and improve energy access across Africa.

A major highlight of the event will be discussions on AI-enabled Digital Twins, a technology that creates virtual representations of physical assets and processes. These digital models allow operators to simulate scenarios, identify risks, optimise performance and make better decisions before implementing changes in real-world operations.

The conference will also feature specialised sessions covering engineering and project delivery, operational optimisation, predictive asset management, enterprise visualisation, industrial data management and the integration of information technology with operational technology systems.

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The growing focus on connected industrial ecosystems reflects a broader shift in how companies manage assets. Rather than relying on isolated systems, businesses are increasingly seeking integrated platforms capable of combining operational data, engineering information and business intelligence into a single environment for faster and more informed decision-making.

For Nigeria, where industrial productivity remains a major challenge, the adoption of such technologies could play a significant role in boosting competitiveness, supporting local content development and accelerating the country’s digital economy ambitions.

As artificial intelligence continues to reshape industries globally, AVEVA Day Nigeria is expected to provide a platform for stakeholders to examine how emerging technologies can move from concept to practical application, helping Nigerian industries operate more efficiently while advancing sustainability and long-term growth objectives.