.. Hails Tinubu’s Renewed Hope 5-Million Workforce Digital Development
Against the backdrop of the rapid pace of Artificial Intelligence (AI) development, a call has been made for a continuous gradual reform and transformation of the Nigeria’s Educational System to equip the country’s workforce with necessary AI-literacy, emotional intelligence, and work life learning capabilities.
Comrade Issa Aremu, Director General, Micheal Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS) made the call in Geneva on the sidelines of the opening 114TH SESSION OF THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR CONFERENCE (ILO) GENEVA, SWITZERLAND last week.
Gilbert F. Houngbo the Director-General of the ILO in his report to 2026 International Labour Conference entitled ; “A moment of choice: Harnessing artificial intelligence for decent work” had observed that while AI promises to expand and reshape how global work is organized, the new technological revolution ushers in “a moment of both excitement and disquiet.” .
According to him, “the future of work will not be determined by technology alone, but by the policies, institutions and social dialogue that guide it.” “The choices we make today will determine whether AI broadens opportunity and shared prosperity or deepens inequality and insecurity. Such choices include: investing in skills, strengthening labour and social protection, supporting micro, small and medium enterprises and upholding fundamental principles and rights at work. This is ultimately a social and political choice about the future we want” he said.
Aremu, one of the government delegates to ILO headed by the Honourable Minister of Labour Muhammad Maigari Dingyad hailed the ILO for promoting a “balanced view” of Artificial intelligence (AI) in transforming many aspects of economies and societies adding that it reinforces Nigeria’s position that, “while harnessing the benefits of AI, the attendant risks do not rob our societies of the gains of decent work.”
Comrade Aremu hailed the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu which had long identified the critical role and potential of AI and technological transformation in national growth and development by setting up the Federal Ministry of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy to drive the strategic blueprint for accelerating a digitally prosperous Nigeria.
He said ILO “was on point” to indicate that “On the one hand, AI can boost productivity and create new opportunities for workers and enterprises alike and that On the other hand, AI raises profound concerns about human and workers ‘ rights, equality and social inclusion – and about social justice more broadly.”
The Director General however observed that AI tasks the imagination of governments, organized labour and private employers of labour to further invest on education with the goal of “maximizing the benefits of new technology and minimizing its perceived disruptive impact on work”.
“The rapid pace of AI development requires that labour education becomes more flexible and dynamic, away from hitherto rigid models, focusing on continuous adaptation that focuses on AI Literacy machine learning ethics, and data science” he said.
Aremu also disclosed that arrangement is almost concluded between the premier Micheal Imoudu National Institute for Labour studies ( MINILS) and Federal Ministry of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy to train workers l, government officials and other employers of Labour within the Ministry’s Workforce Development initiative to train 5 million Nigerians annually in AI, robotics, and other advanced digital technologies to equip the youth and drive job creation.
The 114th Session of the International Labour Conference (ILC), runs from June 1–12, 2026, in Geneva. It is attended by thousands of government, worker, and employer delegates from all of the ILO’s 187 Member States including Nigeria. ILC the annual largest gathering of tripartite labour actors in the world. Key Highlights and Agenda Themes for 2026 ILC are Decent Work in the Platform Economy, Artificial Intelligence & Technology, Gender Equality at Work, Social Dialogue & Tripartism:
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