Senate Leader Senator Opeyemi Bamidele has declared that entrepreneurship development and technical skills acquisition are critical to driving Nigeria's economic revival and ensuring national survival in the digital age.
Urgent Call for Educational Reform
Speaking at the 37th Convocation of Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) in Lagos, the prominent lawmaker stressed that policymakers and state actors must prioritize imparting innovative knowledge and technical skills to young Nigerians. He emphasized that this approach is essential to position Nigeria among the world's emerging digital economies.
Bamidele pointed out that Nigeria's educational curricula, from primary to tertiary levels, require immediate restructuring to incorporate entrepreneurship training, digital education, problem-solving skills, and interpersonal relationship development. This comprehensive approach would properly equip young people with the necessary skills to thrive in today's digital landscape.
The Reality of Job Creation in Digital Age
The Senate Leader highlighted the global trend where governments can no longer provide white-collar jobs for all graduates. Nigeria must adapt to this reality by empowering young people with skills to create their own employment opportunities, he asserted.
Revealing significant statistics, Bamidele disclosed that 51.6 percent of informal businesses in Nigeria started due to unemployment, indicating the country's immense but underutilized human potential.
He presented compelling data about Nigeria's digital transformation, noting that the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector contributes approximately 19 percent to the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Furthermore, Nigeria's tech-startup ecosystem raised over $400 million in funding during 2024, while the fintech sector attracted more than $2 billion in investments.
Building a Competitive Digital Ecosystem
Bamidele identified key areas with substantial opportunity for job creation through digital technology, including:
- Fintech and financial technology services
- E-commerce platforms and digital marketplaces
- Digital services across various sectors
- Agricultural technology (agri-tech) solutions
- Creative industries and digital content creation
He emphasized that Nigeria must build a competitive digital ecosystem to fully leverage these emerging opportunities.
The Senate Leader called for decisive measures to build digital skills and human capital, develop infrastructure, ensure access to finance, and establish supportive regulatory and policy frameworks for digital entrepreneurship.
National Strategy for Digital Transformation
Bamidele stressed the need for government institutions to mobilize resources, coordinate across ministries, and build national ecosystems to foster a competitive and prosperous digital economy.
He urged the National Assembly to make the digital economy a core national priority, promote digital skill development, and establish a national digital skills fund to support these initiatives.
The Senate Leader also called on the private sector to partner with educational institutions, provide internships and apprenticeships, and invest in regional hubs to tap into Nigeria's vast talent pool.
Bamidele advised educators and institutions to modernize their curricula, remove outdated silos, and equip students with digital competence, entrepreneurial mindset, and global-market awareness.
The lecture attracted distinguished guests including academics, policymakers, and industry stakeholders who shared insights on the role of entrepreneurship and technical skills in driving Nigeria's economic growth and development.
