Nigerian youths have been urged to embrace technology, innovation and Artificial Intelligence (AI) as tools for tackling unemployment, creating wealth and improving their socio-economic wellbeing.
Speakers at the annual conference organised by Future Tech Circle (FTC) said young Nigerians must move beyond traditional approaches to education, employment and entrepreneurship by acquiring skills that align with emerging opportunities.
The conference, which brought together young people, including university students and graduates, was held under the theme, “The Future Is Being Built Now.”
Founder of FTC and convener of the conference, Itunuoluwa Akande, challenged participants to take advantage of technological advancement and innovation to strengthen themselves economically, socially and academically.
Akande said the changing nature of work and business required young people to rethink conventional approaches to learning and earning a living.
“Things shouldn’t be done traditionally. There must be a departure from the old ways of doing things, that is the way we learn, work, study and do business on a day-to-day basis,” she said.
A 400-level Law student of Deeper Life University, Ayobo, Akande urged participants to move quickly to embrace emerging technologies capable of transforming their circumstances while enabling them to make meaningful contributions to society.
Speaking on the importance of adaptability, Oluwatobiloba Badmus of Universal School said young people should recognise that skills that are valuable today may not necessarily remain sufficient in the future.
She described change as a catalyst for personal development and urged participants to develop self-awareness about where they were and where they wanted to go.
“Life is about dynamism, change and flexibility. Change is a catalyst to what you want to become. You should ask yourself, ‘What do I want to become?’” Badmus said.
A trained nurse, Badmus also shared her experience of moving from nursing into non-governmental organisation activities, public speaking and real estate after finding limited fulfilment in her original career path.
She encouraged young Nigerians to continuously learn new skills and use technology to adapt to changing realities, citing technological advances in professional fields as evidence of the opportunities available.
Badmus said technology could enable young people to pursue multiple roles, including administration, content creation and marketing.
Marketing consultant Michael Lanre also highlighted the growing opportunities created by technology, innovation and AI, citing the digital transformation of stock market operations as an example of how technology is changing traditional industries.
Deputy Director of WALSA Nigeria, Kenishia Nzenwa, similarly encouraged young people to take advantage of technology and AI to connect ideas, business opportunities and innovative knowledge.
Nzenwa also urged participants to benefit from free AI training offered by FTC, recounting how she diversified her career after realising that her earnings as a lawyer were insufficient to achieve her broader financial and community goals.
According to her, technology and AI had helped her diversify her business activities and create additional opportunities.
CEO of MyFund, Tolulope Ahmed, popularly known as Dr Tee, advised young people not to wait until after graduation before exploring legitimate business opportunities.
Ahmed recounted how he bought his first property while still a student and spoke about plans to develop student hostels in Oyo, Osun, Ondo and other states through an investment model that would allow members of the public to participate in the proceeds.
He maintained that academic pursuits and entrepreneurship could coexist if young people learned to manage their time effectively.
“So, you don’t have to choose between academics and business. You can have it all. All you need to do is to plan your day,” he said.
Ahmed also advised participants to understand their personalities and strengths before choosing careers or business ventures, recommending personality assessments to help them identify areas suited to their abilities.
He cautioned young people against wasting time pursuing careers for which they were not suited, stressing that people could possess valuable skills even when they were not suited to particular professional roles.
He further urged participants to exercise financial discipline when they begin earning, warning against indiscriminate spending and encouraging them to protect and invest their resources.
Ahmed said a person’s life was shaped by the mind, environment and change, urging young people to consciously improve their environments and develop their financial capacity.
He also shared how he had leveraged his proficiency in French to prepare grant applications for Francophone African countries, describing it as an example of how an existing skill could be converted into an economic opportunity.
The conference later featured a panel session where participants interacted with the speakers and sought practical advice on education, technology, business and personal development.
A notable moment came when Grace Shobowale, a student of Vetland Secondary School, Agege, Lagos, raised concerns about lacking the resources needed to participate fully in the digital economy, including access to a smartphone and laptop.
Although she was not initially qualified to attend the programme, her concerns prompted the resource persons to admit her into the FTC Hall of Fame as a member.
The organisers said the annual conference is designed to expose young people to motivational ideas, technological opportunities and practical knowledge that can help them prepare for a rapidly changing world.
