Lagos State government and experts in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector have urged Nigerian youths to embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in solving societal challenges.
They gave the advice during the 2025 Commonwealth Day organised by the Tantacom Group and the Commonwealth Youth Council (CYC) at the University of Lagos, Akoka, on Friday.
The theme of the event was “AI, Youth and the Future of Work.”
At the event attended by hundreds of youths and students, Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr Mobolaji Ogunlende said, AI has not only transformed how people work but has also redefined the very essence of productivity and creativity.
Ogunlende said the impact of AI on work cannot be overstated, noting that across industries, AI has altered how tasks are completed, reducing the time and effort required to achieve results.
He said, “AI is an ally empowering the youth for the future of work. Instead of viewing AI as a threat, young people must embrace it as a partner in their professional journey. AI offers three key advantages that can reshape the future of work for youth. Whether in writing, music production, app development, or business strategy, AI allows young innovators to test their ideas quickly and refine them before presenting them to the world.
“A young entrepreneur can now use AI to draft a business proposal, generate a financial model, and create a marketing strategy—all within a day. AI is not just about automation; it is also creating new job roles. Fields such as AI ethics, machine learning engineering, data science, and AI-assisted design are emerging industries where young people can carve out lucrative careers.”
Also, the special adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr Idris Aregbe, said the Lagos State government was ready to support young people that are into AI, stressing that technology would help to create more jobs for young people.
He said, “All you just need to do is to be able to tap into it and the AI will bounce. People say it is the future. I don’t think it is the future; it is here. It is now. We need to move with it and start to take advantage of AI.”
Earlier, the Co-CEO of Tantacom Group, Mrs Jennifer Odufuwa, stressed that the theme of this year’s Commonwealth Day is a call to collaborate, innovate and create a future where no one is left behind in the digital age.
