Business
Experts seek for technology to improve competition
A body, the Nigerian Institute of Surveyors (NIS) has made case for the adoption of proper technology to enhance competition in the built environment.
NIS made the call during the recent interactive & orientation session for resident and non-resident surveyors of Lagos State.
Surveyor-General of Lagos State, Ayokunnu Adesina, in the event, noted that artificial intelligence is making its way into the field of surveying and is poised to revolutionise the way professionals gather data, analyse information, and deliver solutions.
He noted, “It is important to note that AI is still in its early stages of development within the surveying industry. However, the potential benefits are significant, and AI is expected to play an increasingly important role in the future of surveying.
“AI can automate tedious tasks like feature extraction from LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) data or aerial photographs. This frees up surveyors to focus on more complex tasks and analysis.
“Improved Data Quality and Accuracy: AI algorithms can be trained to identify and flag inconsistencies or errors in surveying data, leading to more accurate and reliable results”.
Adesina claimed that AI could be used to automate quality control checks on survey data, ensuring that it meets the required standards.
He added, “It can also be used to detect anomalies or unexpected features in the data, which could be potential areas of concern.
“AI can be used to create highly detailed and accurate 3D models of terrain and infrastructure from surveying data. This can be valuable for a variety of applications, such as construction planning, volume calculations, and visualisation.
“In the future, AI could be used to develop autonomous surveying systems that can operate without human intervention. This could be used for tasks such as surveying hazardous or difficult-to-reach areas”.@
In a similar vein, the immediate past Vice President of the Nigeria Institution of Surveyors, Olumide Adewebi, said the field of land surveying was rapidly evolving with advancements in technology.
“Embracing these technologies will enhance your efficiency, accuracy, and competitiveness. Embrace cutting-edge technologies, such as light detection and ranging, which uses laser light to create high-resolution maps and models, significantly enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of your surveying projects”, he stated.
He urged surveyors to use advanced software for data processing, mapping, and project management, adding that software tools could automate many tasks, reduce errors, and improve workflow efficiency.
Business
Wealth Creation: GCPBS Convenes Strategic Investment Workshop In PH
Banking/ Finance
Ripple Survey Reveals Appetite for Digital Assets
Cornerstone of Financial Services
A survey of more than 1 000 global finance leaders undertaken by digital payment network Ripple shows that 72% of respondents believe they need to offer a digital asset solution to remain competitive.
According to Ripple, leaders from the banking, fintech, corporate and asset management sector have made it clear that the “digital asset revolution is happening now”.
“Digital assets are quickly becoming a cornerstone of financial services, underpinned by progressive regulation, growing interest from Tier-1 banks, a steady consumer shift from banks to fintech providers, and booming stablecoin adoption,” Ripple says.
The survey was conducted in early 2026 and the findings released in March.
Stablecoin Boon or Bane?
Ripple has experienced significant success in the stablecoin sector since launching its Ripple USD (RLUSD) stablecoin in 2024.
With a market cap of $1.56 billion, it is considered a major regulated player in the market.
No doubt the platform was pleased to learn through its own survey that financial leaders were most bullish about stablecoins.
Roughly three-quarters of respondents believed they could boost cash-flow efficiency and unlock trapped working capital.
Ripple noted that finance leaders were thinking about stablecoins as more than “just a new way to execute payments”; instead, they viewed them as effective tools for treasury management.
In March 2026, Ripple began testing a new trade finance model built around RLUSD in a bid to increase the speed of cross-border payments.
The pilot initiative, developed alongside supply chain finance company Unloq [https://unloq.com], is running on the XRP Ledger inside a testing framework developed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore.
The Asian city-state is one of the platform’s biggest growth markets.
The idea behind the project is to see whether stablecoin-based settlement can streamline trade finance, too often hampered by reliance on intermediaries and slow reconciliation.
The only potential drawback is that if the initiative takes off, the Ripple to USD price could be negatively affected.
Ripple has always championed its native XRP token as a bridge asset, the “middleman” in the process of a financial institution turning dollars in the US into pounds in the UK, for example.
Ripple converts dollars into XRP and then back into pounds.
If RLUSD can do exactly the same thing, questions will be asked about XRP’s relevance.
That is a bridge Ripple will have to cross if it gets to that point.
Tokenisation Partners
Another interesting finding from Ripple’s survey is that most banks and asset managers are seeking tokenisation partners to help execute their strategies.
Some 89% of respondents said digital asset storage and custody were top priority. “Token servicing/lifecycle management also ranks highly for banks at 82%, while asset managers place greater emphasis on primary distribution at 80%,” Ripple found.
The survey also revealed that just more than half of fintechs and financial institutions want an infrastructure provider that can offer a “one-stop-shop solution”. This rose to 71% among corporate financial leaders.
Ripple attributes this to institutions and firms wanting uncomplicated, cohesive systems.
Infrastructure Rules
In its final analysis, Ripple says companies across the board are looking for partners and solutions that are “secure, compliant, battle-tested and that enable growth and execution”.
“The message is clear: infrastructure decisions made today will shape competitive positioning tomorrow.”
No surprise that this is precisely where Ripple is placing much of its focus.
