Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, has issued a powerful call to action, urging Nigerian graduates to actively embrace digital skills as a primary solution for job creation and economic survival. He made this declaration while delivering the 37th convocation lecture at Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), an event held on December 4, 2025.
A Timely Intervention for Shrinking Opportunities
Addressing the critical challenge of high youth unemployment, Bamidele argued that the era of expecting government-provided white-collar jobs for all graduates is definitively over. "It is no longer realistic the world over for governments to provide white-collar jobs for all the young graduates from the universities, polytechnics, technical colleges and other tertiary institutions. This is no longer fashionable, nor is it sustainable," he stated emphatically.
He pointed to global trends showing that digital transformation is reshaping labour markets and redefining competitiveness. Prof. Funso Afolabi, Chairman of YABATECH's Governing Council, described the lecture as a strategic and timely intervention designed to prepare new graduates for this new reality of shrinking traditional opportunities.
Investing in the Digital Economy and Key Skills
Bamidele's central thesis called for significantly greater investments in digital technologies and entrepreneurial training. He highlighted the emergence of the digital economy, driven by new technologies and specific skills that young Nigerians must acquire.
The Senate leader outlined critical areas where graduates should focus their efforts, including:
- Blockchain technology
- Data analytics and Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Cybersecurity and Cloud Computing
- Web development and immersive technologies
- Content marketing and other digital marketing forms
He emphasized that countries seeking economic growth must prioritize importing innovative knowledge and digital skills for their youth. This shift is evident in government actions, such as the recent move by the National Assembly to enact the Nigeria Data Protection Commission Act, 2025, designed to shape the digital economy and strengthen data protection.
Institutional Roles and a Call for Synergy
Bamidele commended YABATECH's foundational vision to provide training in technology and applied sciences, noting that its transition to a University of Technology and Vocational Training is aimed at filling skill gaps in Nigeria's digital space. The institution's Rector, Dr. Ibraheem Abdul, affirmed this mission, stating they are preparing graduates not just for the future of work, but to shape it.
However, Bamidele challenged the college's leadership to develop more initiatives to revolutionize digital education. He admitted that public institutions cannot drive this transformation alone and called for robust private-sector partnership.
He enjoined the private sector to focus on:
- Mentorship and networking by pairing new entrepreneurs with experienced ones.
- Creating supportive peer communities for innovators.
- Facilitating access to markets for start-ups.
The event, which was chaired by Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, provided deep insights into deploying technology for start-up growth. Bamidele concluded by encouraging the new graduates to see themselves as the drivers of Nigeria's digital economy, equipped with the requisite skills to catalyze exponential economic growth and navigate the prevailing global economic realities.
