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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Experts, technology leaders, academics, investors and entrepreneurs have identified artificial intelligence, digital skills development and innovation as key factors that will shape the growth of the East Midlands’ digital economy.

The remarks were made at the Tech Derby Conference 2026, held at Vaillant Live in Derby as part of East Midlands Tech Week, where stakeholders gathered to discuss the theme, “AI & the Next Digital Economy: Innovation, Opportunities and Responsible Governance.”

The conference focused on how artificial intelligence is transforming industries, creating new business opportunities and influencing the future of work, while highlighting the importance of responsible AI adoption, ethical governance and investment in talent development.

A major highlight of the event was a keynote address by Professor Stephan Reiff-Marganiec, Head of the School of Computing at the University of Derby, who spoke on developing local talent for an AI-ready future.

Professor Reiff-Marganiec emphasised the need for stronger collaboration between universities, industry and communities to prepare people with the skills required to take advantage of emerging technological opportunities.

The conference also featured a presentation by Ajibola Shokunbi of AudioInsight UK, who shared insights into the use of artificial intelligence in music education and demonstrated how research-driven innovation can be developed into practical solutions with real-world impact.

During the panel session titled “AI Governance and Responsible Innovation: Building Trust in the Next Digital Economy,” experts examined issues surrounding accountability, transparency, data governance and public confidence in the adoption of artificial intelligence.

The discussion was moderated by Adepeju Bello, a cybersecurity and financial crime specialist, Director at Tech Derby, and Head of the Tech Advisory & Policy Group (TAG).

Bello said artificial intelligence had moved beyond being a future concept and was already changing how people work, learn, communicate, make decisions and build businesses across sectors such as healthcare, finance, education and entrepreneurship.

“Artificial Intelligence is no longer a future technology, it is already transforming how we work, learn, communicate, make decisions, and build businesses. From healthcare and finance to education, government, and entrepreneurship, AI is creating incredible opportunities for innovation and growth,” she said.

Contributing to the discussion, Rukayat Balogun highlighted the importance of responsible AI adoption, stressing the need for accountability, transparency, effective data governance and meaningful human oversight to build trust in emerging technologies.

Joseph Origbo, PhD Researcher, AI and Digital Innovation Advocate, and Co-Founder of Tech Derby, said responsible innovation required collaboration among universities, businesses, public-sector organisations and technology leaders.

He noted that building a competitive digital economy required not only technological advancement but also investment in skills, partnerships, trust and inclusive growth.

Speaking after the conference, Akindayo Akindolani, CEO of Tech Derby, said the event demonstrated the impact of bringing together founders, professionals, universities, investors, businesses and community leaders around a shared vision.

“Tech Derby was created to build a stronger technology ecosystem in Derby and the wider East Midlands. This conference showed what is possible when founders, professionals, universities, investors, businesses and community leaders come together around a shared vision,” he said.

Akindolani added that AI and digital innovation should not be limited to major cities, noting that Derby had the talent, ideas and ambition to play a significant role in the next digital economy.

He said Tech Derby would continue supporting technology growth through startup programmes, AI workshops, technical training, founder support initiatives and ecosystem partnerships.

Olawale Olatunji, Co-Founder and Event Project Manager, described the conference as a reflection of the region’s growing technology ambitions.

“The Tech Derby Conference 2026 was more than an event; it was a demonstration of what can be achieved when people from different sectors come together with a shared vision for innovation and growth,” Olatunji said.

He added that discussions around AI, responsible innovation, digital skills and business growth reinforced the potential of the East Midlands to become a leading technology hub.

The conference was supported by partners including East Midlands Tech Week, University of Derby, British Business Bank, Mercia Ventures, LemFi, TES Community and other members of the local innovation ecosystem.

Tech Derby said it would continue developing programmes focused on AI training, startup support, hackathons, youth-focused digital activities and partnerships aimed at strengthening the region’s technology landscape.

Omolara Oladipupo, software developer, also spoke on building competitive businesses in the digital economy, highlighting emerging technologies such as agentic AI and other digital tools businesses—particularly SMEs—should monitor over the next five years, alongside practical technologies that can support growth and efficiency.

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By Gloria Ikibah

For millions of people across West Africa, electricity remains a privilege rather than a guarantee. While cities grapple with frequent blackouts and ageing infrastructure, many rural communities still live beyond the reach of national grids, relying on candles, kerosene lamps and diesel generators to power their daily lives.

Yet a quiet energy revolution is unfolding across the region.
From Senegal to Ghana, Cabo Verde and Nigeria, solar mini-grids and off-grid renewable energy systems are gradually changing the story, bringing power to villages that have waited decades for electricity. The transformation is creating businesses, improving healthcare, supporting education and opening new economic opportunities.

But as promising projects emerge, a new challenge is becoming clear: generating electricity is no longer the biggest problem. Keeping pace with rising demand, financing expansion and building sustainable systems are proving to be the real test.

Access to electricity has long been one of West Africa’s greatest development challenges. According to the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE), millions of people in the region, particularly in rural areas, still lack reliable access to electricity despite significant progress over the past decade.

The ECOWAS Vision 2050 framework identifies energy access as a critical driver of industrialisation, regional integration and poverty reduction, recognising that economic growth cannot thrive without dependable power supply.

The situation reflects a wider African reality. While investment in renewable energy is increasing, expanding electricity access remains a major challenge because of population growth, financing gaps and ageing transmission infrastructure.

International agencies and reports by Reuters have repeatedly highlighted how frequent power shortages continue to slow industrial production, discourage investment and increase the cost of doing business across the region.

Against this backdrop, renewable energy has emerged as one of West Africa’s most practical solutions.

In Senegal’s Fatick Region, the rural community of Ndiob offers a glimpse of what is possible.

During a recent field mission, members of the ECOWAS Parliament’s Joint Committee on Energy and Mines, Infrastructure, Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources travelled from Dakar to inspect a solar-powered mini-grid serving three villages.

Managed by Green Impact West Africa under the supervision of Senegal’s Rural Electrification Agency (ASER), the project uses a containerised solar plant equipped with photovoltaic panels and lithium-ion battery storage to supply homes, schools, health centres and small businesses.

The impact is visible everywhere, as street lights illuminate roads that were once dark after sunset. Health centres preserve medicines safely. Schools enjoy longer study hours, while artisans such as welders, tailors and carpenters have expanded their businesses because electricity is available throughout the day.

Women have found new opportunities through food preservation and small-scale processing, while young people are being employed as technicians responsible for maintaining the solar facilities.

For residents, electricity has become more than a public service; it has become an economic asset.

As local resident Mustafa Faye told visiting lawmakers, thst the village now resembles a growing town, attracting residents who work in Dakar but choose to live in Ndiob because of improved living conditions.

Ironically, the success of the Ndiob project has exposed one of renewable energy’s biggest challenges.

Demand is growing faster than supply, especially when more households now own refrigerators and electrical appliances, while businesses require greater power capacity than the original installation was designed to provide.

Residents complain of low voltage and irregular supply, making it impossible to operate high-energy equipment such as air conditioners and larger machinery.

But the problem is not peculiar to Senegal. Across West Africa, many mini-grid projects were initially designed as pilot schemes serving small populations. As communities expand and local economies improve, electricity consumption rises sharply, placing enormous pressure on existing infrastructure.

Battery storage remains another major constraint.
Solar energy is abundant throughout West Africa, but without sufficient storage capacity, electricity generated during the day cannot always meet evening demand when households and businesses consume the most power.

Operators also face high maintenance costs, logistical difficulties in reaching remote communities and the challenge of replacing specialised equipment.

The biggest obstacle may not be technology but investment. This is because renewable energy projects require significant upfront capital, while returns often take years to materialise. Rural communities with low incomes may also struggle to pay electricity bills consistently, especially during agricultural off-seasons.

This makes long-term sustainability difficult without continued support from governments, development finance institutions and private investors.

Recognising these challenges, lawmakers at the ECOWAS Parliament’s five-day delocalised meeting in Dakar adopted resolutions calling for accelerated deployment of decentralised renewable energy systems across the region.

The Parliament recommended stronger financing mechanisms, harmonised regulations, improved quality standards for renewable energy equipment and greater support for productive uses of electricity that generate income for rural communities.

The lawmakers also urged increased backing for ECREEE and renewed efforts to address financial challenges affecting the West African Power Pool (WAPP), the regional electricity integration project designed to enable cross-border power trading.

For many policymakers, sustainable rural electrification will depend on community ownership rather than government intervention alone.

Speaking after the field visit, ECOWAS Parliament Vice Chairman of the Committee on Infrastructure, Hon. Ahmed Munir, said renewable energy projects are already creating jobs and reducing poverty across rural communities.

According to Munir, lawmakers witnessed women producing and selling ice blocks, tailors expanding their businesses and young technicians maintaining solar installations.

“We saw prosperity, not just electricity,” he said.

Munir argued that communities should actively invest in renewable energy enterprises instead of waiting for governments or foreign investors to solve every problem.

His position reflects a growing consensus among energy experts that local participation increases project sustainability while creating stronger economic incentives for maintenance and expansion.

The experience in Ndiob demonstrates that electricity is not simply about switching on lights.

Reliable power supports cold storage for farmers, reduces post-harvest losses, improves healthcare delivery, strengthens education and creates opportunities for entrepreneurship.

Every additional connection has the potential to generate employment and stimulate local economies. The visit also exposed a broader reality confronting West Africa’s energy transition: solar panels alone will not solve the region’s electricity deficit.

Greater investment in battery storage, stronger transmission systems, local technical skills, supportive regulations and innovative financing models will all be required if renewable energy is to achieve its full potential.

West Africa possesses one of the world’s richest solar resources, but the challenge is no longer whether the region has enough sunshine.

The real question is whether governments, investors and communities can work together to transform that natural advantage into reliable electricity capable of powering homes, businesses and industries for generations to come.

If the lessons from Ndiob are any guide, the future is already taking shape. What remains is ensuring that the infrastructure grows as quickly as the ambitions of the people it serves.

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has presented certificate of return to Biodun Oyebanji, the Ekiti State governor and winner of the off-cycle 2026 governorship election held on Saturday in the state.

The commission on Sunday declared Mr Oyebanji, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), winner of the election after polling 319,224 votes across the 16 local government areas in the state.

The electoral commission presented the certificates to Mr Oyebanji and his deputy, Monisade Afuye, on Tuesday, at a ceremony held at the INEC state headquarters, along New Iyin Road in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

In his address, the state’s resident electoral commissioner, Bunmi Omoseyindemi, thanked residents of the state for showing resilience and commitment to democracy, and for conducting themselves in a peaceful manner during the election period.

Mr Omoseyindemi stated, “I wish to express profound appreciation to the people of Ekiti State for their peaceful conduct, resilience and commitment to democracy throughout the electoral process. The election was conducted in a peaceful, transparent, free, fair and inclusive manner.”

The REC also appreciated stakeholders, including security agencies, the media, civil society organisations, election observers and election officials, for their cooperation and professionalism in ensuring the smooth conduct of the exercise.

He charged the governor-elect and the deputy governor-elect to embrace the responsibility of leadership with humility, inclusiveness and dedication to the welfare of residents of the state.

He stated, “To the governor-elect and deputy governor-elect, I congratulate you on your victory at the polls. This certificate being presented today is not just a symbol of electoral success but a solemn reminder of the trust and expectations reposed in you by the people of Ekiti State.”

He also called on all other contestants to embrace the spirit of sportsmanship, peace and democratic engagement.

The REC said, “To all the contestants, I urge that the spirit of sportsmanship, peace and democratic engagement be sustained so as to continue to deepen our democracy.”

In his speech, Mr Oyebanji stated that his victory at the poll was made possible by God and the support of President Bola Tinubu, adding that the president particularly exercised courage by amending the Electoral Act.

The governor also commended INEC for being professional in the conduct of the election, stating that lessons derived from the exercise would contribute to the success of future elections.

“I am grateful to the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. After God, the next person responsible for this victory is the president. I am very grateful to him for his support and encouragement, especially for the courage to amend the Electoral Act,” Mr Oyebanji stated.

“Ekiti election was the first election after the Act was signed into law and you can see INEC’s performance. It was a great improvement. I thank INEC for being professional, for being fair and for being just,” he said.

Mr Oyebanji vowed to serve residents of the state with humility, fear of God and commitment to the people’s welfare.

He stated, “I promise Ekiti people that I will continue to serve them with humility, fear of God and the commitment that they hold dear.”

He also encouraged his co-contestants to join hands with his administration to implement the vision of shared prosperity.

According to Mr Oyebanji, his administration is ready to work with other contestants in the election by aligning programmes and policies that could foster the interests of residents of the state.

“I also invite all other contestants to join hands with us in our quest to continue the implementation of our shared prosperity. I have had conversations with two of them and I visited one of them so that we can align our policies and programs in the interest of our people,” he said.

The governor said there was no loser or winner in the election, noting that the victory must be seen as a win for democracy.

“Elections are over. We are one. We must put behind all those issues, either before the primaries or after. Let us come together as one. That is the only way we can continue to develop as a people. Nobody has won this election. There is no winner, there is no loser. It is democracy that has won,” Mr Oyebanji stated.