Youths have been advised to acquire tech skills that would equip them to contribute meaningfully to the technological advancement of Nigeria.
The Founder, Teens World Foundation, Kossy Okonkwo, gave the advice at her foundation’s annual youth programme, ‘Teen Tech Expo 24’, which held at the University of Lagos under the theme, ‘Tech beyond borders empowering tomorrow“s tech innovators.’
The event which brought together youths from post primary schools across Lagos State and undergraduates aimed to advocate quality education through tech skill acquisition.
Okonkwo said: “The main goal of teen tech conference is to raise mentally strong self-aware and highly skilled teenagers, recognising their significant contribution to the growth of the Nigerian economy.
“As part of their empowerment and education, the event aimed to address the pressing need for technology adoption among teenagers.
“The ultimate vision is to cultivate a generation of strong-willed teenage leaders who are well equipped for the technological advancement of their nation.”
Emphasising the need to encourage young ones to acquire tech skills, she said it would enable them become aware of the country’s challenges so as to actively seek solutions, there by contributing to the advancement of the nation’s economy.
She said that the annual event would also decrease unemployment rates and create jobs for the youth both locally and internationally, adding, “even as they transit into adulthood, the event strives to secure a brighter future for both the teenagers and the nation at large.”
On the need for the young ones to concentrate on the positive use of technology, Okonkwo said: “In Western countries, like the United States, Russia, Germany, you can see teenagers inventing programmes that are useful to mankind; we need such in Nigeria. If our youths are exposed to opportunities in technology, the future of the country will be great.”
She described teenage stage as a crucial period, adding that parents should be careful in handling their teenagers.
“If you look around us, the age range between 13-19 years which we actually call the adolescent age, is almost one of the most difficult ages of life.
“At this point, teenagers are facing identity issues, they are coming out from childhood and they are being introduced to adolescent.
“During this period, they also face a lot of peer pressure, parents should not at this point see them as violent or useless. At this stage, they need a strong hand, love, guardian, so that they will be able to overcome pressure associated with that stage,’’ she said.
Enoch Afolabi, head of Growth for Maringa School who spoke at the event, taught the participants on how to identify and develop relevant tech skills.
Afolabi also educated the teenagers on how to identify problem as well as proffer solution to such problems.
In his words: “Teenagers who are interested in acquiring tech skills should give themselves to the process of solving problems, by so doing they will go through self-discovery, and eventually solve the problem, they would become better individuals who have learnt how to identify problems and how to solve such challenges as well.’’
On the other hand, he advised parents and guardians to be conversant with information technology so as to monitor what their children do on the internet.
Adaora Dagogo, who spoke earlier, lauded the organisers of the conference, saying it would go a long way in transforming the lives of the participants.
She advised youths to abstain from get-rich-quick syndrome, adding that there is no short cut to acquiring genuine wealth than hard work and determination.
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