Makinde, Azu, Denzel Seek Better Collaboration For ICT Learning, Challenge Youths

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and the Editor-in-Chief of LEADERSHIP, Azu Ishiekwene, have sought better stakeholder collaboration to ensure Nigerian youths’ continuous learning of information communication technology (ICT).

Speaking at the 3rd graduation ceremony of the Yomi Denzel Foundation, Ibadan, on Saturday, Governor Makinde called on the private and public sectors, philanthropists, and organisations to invest in the future of the youth through technology.

Represented by Wasilat Adegoke, the state’s commissioner for Youths and Sports, the governor noted that technology-driven education and skills development must be accessible to all, especially young people.
According to him, technology, education, and skills development remain significant drivers of economic transformation in modern life.

The governor appreciated Mr. Yomi Denzel Olaniyi’s vision, passion, and unwavering commitment as the founder of the Yomi Denzel Foundation (YDF).

Makinde, who emphasised the importance of building a knowledge-based economy, disclosed that the state had invested massively in education, digital infrastructure, and skill acquisition programmes.
The guest speaker, Azu, noted that Nigeria stood at the cusp of a digital transformation driven by its youth.

In his lecture, “Empowering Nigeria’s Tech Future, One Young Mind at A Time,” he said that with over 63% of the population under 25 (and 70% under 30), the nation’s demographic dividend provides a vast reservoir of tech-savvy, ambitious young minds. He added that this generation had grown up mobile-first, spurring rapid digital adoption.

While noting that Nigeria boasts Africa’s largest tech hub ecosystem, home to around 90 active tech hubs, the most on the continent, he said, “We must candidly address the challenges that threaten to hold back Nigeria’s youth-driven tech future.”

According to him, these include infrastructural deficits, funding hurdles, educational and social gaps, education and skill mismatch, regional and economic inequality, brain drain, and talent retention.
Azu recommended integrating digital skills in mainstream education to inspire the next generation, a practical step for the Ministry of Education to pilot a “Coding and Robotics” curriculum in a few states, and then scale up.

Referring to the maxim of Martin Luther King Jr., he advised the youth: “If you can’t fly, then run. If you can’t run, then walk. If you can’t walk, crawl, but whatever you do, you must keep moving.”
Addressing the graduates, the foundation’s president, Yomi Denzel Olaniyi, noted that they had worked hard this year, and this was the end of the year, adding, “I want to stress that this is the beginning of your lives.”

He advised them to take responsibility for their lives and never give up, as challenges would only improve them.

The national coordinator of YDF and proprietress of Newspring College, Ibadan, Mrs. Temituope Oluwatukesi, said 42 students graduated from the third set, with 19 from Lagos and 23 from Ibadan, hosted by the study centre at Newspring College.