The Nigeria Association of Computing Students, NACOS, has urged all levels of government to equip youths with market-driven skills, enabling them to significantly contribute to Nigeria’s economy.
The National President of the Association, Comrade Chihurumnanya Nwanevu, made the call at the NACOS National Summit Innovation 2023, held in Abuja with the theme “Pan-African Global Impact: Nurturing the Next Generation of Young African Entrepreneurs and Change Makers”.
Nwanevu emphasized that technology was no longer a vision of the future but a present reality.
He said that “15 years ago, social media was not as prevalent as it is today, and technology now permeates every aspect of our lives. Smart cards, artificial intelligence, and the use of AI chatbots like ChatGPT have revolutionized communication”.
Nwanevu stressed that empowering students with the right skills would lead to greater contributions to Nigeria’s economy.
“The statistics from last year, before the former Minister of Communication and Digital Economy handed over, revealed that Nigeria’s ICT sector made a substantial contribution to the country’s GDP. ICT has become the new ‘oil’ of Nigeria, significantly enhancing our lives and contributions to the economy” he added.
Speaking about the implications of ICT, Nwanevu highlighted the importance of conferences like this in educating and sensitizing members to stay away from cybercrime, which can harm individuals and society.
He pointed out that discrimination against those with green passports was a global issue, primarily affecting youths.
Nwanevu urged Nigerian youths to align with the vision of the new administration and the Minister of Communication and Innovation in the Digital Economy.
In his remarks, the President of the Nigeria Computer Society, Dr. Muhammed Suraj, opined that the summit would reveal various potentials and opportunities, especially for the youth.
Muhammed, represented by Engr. Hauwa Yahaya Abubakar, emphasized the abundance of opportunities for young people, from computer science to programming, artificial intelligence, and beyond.
He mentioned the grants available from organizations like the Bank of Industry to support young innovators in solving meaningful problems.
“Leveraging these opportunities can propel the country forward” he noted.
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