From AMEDU JOSEPH, Lokoja
Stakeholders in Kogi State have called on youth to develop entrepreneurial mindsets and embrace the use of innovation and technology to foster the socio-economic development in the country.
They gave the advice Monday in Government House, Lokoja, during the Oladele John Nihi (OJN) Annual Symposium, tagged: Youth Entrepreneurship and Empowerment: Panacea to Foster Socio-economic Development in a Society.
In their various comments during panel discussions, the stakeholders emphasised the need for Nigerian youth to develop an entrepreneurial mindset, adopt agriculture and use of technology to become self-reliant and employers of labour.
The Commissioner for Innovation and Technology, Dr. Helen Aderibigbe, reaffirmed the state government’s interest in building the youth’s capacity through Innovation and Technology (IT).
She restated government’s commitment to continue investing in primary and secondary education to nurture students that would be IT compliant.
“Our ministry is positively disposed to youth development in all ramifications, especially through Innovation and Technology, as well as artificial intelligence (AI) to foster socio-economic development in Kogi,” Aderibigbe said.
Other panelists urged youth to explore the numerous benefits accruable from agriculture and forex trade and use IT to create values that promote the socio-economic growth of society.
The keynote speaker, Dr. Oladele Peters, urged students to have the mindset of developing a skill from secondary school to be self-reliant as government cannot provide jobs for all.
Peters, an entrepreneur guru, stressed that youth entrepreneurship and empowerment would drastically reduce insecurity, social vices and poverty in the country.
Guest Speaker, Lawrence Zhiya-Huleji, the State Coordinator, NACCIMA, Youth Entrepreneurs, noted that Kogi was naturally positioned for unhindered progress.
He urged the youth to always think out of the box and explore their environment using innovation and technology to create job opportunities.
He emphasised the need for youth to learn vocational skills to make them self-reliant rather than waiting for white-collar opportunities.
