In a powerful address to thousands of new graduates, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele has declared that the era of waiting for government white-collar jobs is over. He called for a national shift towards digital skills and entrepreneurship to combat Nigeria's pressing youth unemployment crisis.
A Gathering for a Digital Future
The event was the 37th convocation lecture at Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) in Lagos, which saw no fewer than 8,000 graduates fill the auditorium. While celebrating their academic completion, the reality of a challenging job market loomed large. Prof. Funso Afolabi, Chairman of the college's Governing Council, described the lecture as "both timely and profoundly strategic," designed to equip graduates for a world of shrinking traditional opportunities.
The theme, "Entrepreneurship development in the digital age: Leveraging technology for job creation and economic growth," set the stage. Prof. Afolabi justified the focus, noting that digital transformation is reshaping global competitiveness and labour markets. The event was chaired by Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, with Senator Bamidele delivering the core lecture.
The Digital Economy as the New Frontier
Drawing from global trends, Bamidele argued it is no longer tenable or sustainable for governments to provide salaried jobs for all tertiary institution graduates. "The governments have now assumed the positions of creating environments that can enable creativity, innovation and invention," he stated.
He emphasised that the digital economy, driven by new technologies and skills, is the critical frontier. He outlined essential areas for the younger generation to master, including:
- Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence
- Data Analytics and Cybersecurity
- Web Development and Cloud Computing
- Content Marketing and Immersive Technologies
Bamidele connected this skill imperative to recent legislative actions. He highlighted the Nigeria Data Protection Commission Act, 2025, designed to shape the digital economy and strengthen data protection. He also explained the strategic importance of the 2024 National Digital Economy and e-governance Act, which mandates using digital technology to grow the economy and transform public service delivery.
A Call for Systemic Change and Private Sector Action
The Senate Leader challenged both policymakers and educators, urging them to learn from the exponential growth of Asian economies. "To attain a similar feat in Nigeria, our policy makers and state actors must prioritise entrepreneurship training," he asserted. He called for a curriculum overhaul from primary to tertiary levels to incorporate technical skills, creative innovation, digital education, and problem-solving.
He praised YABATECH's founding vision of focusing on technology and applied science but challenged its leadership to launch more initiatives to revolutionise digital education. Acknowledging that public institutions cannot act alone, Bamidele called on the private sector to step up through mentorship, creating peer communities for entrepreneurs, and facilitating access to markets.
In his welcome address, the Rector, Dr. Ibraheem Abdul, linked the lecture's message to YABATECH's transition to a University of Technology and Vocational Training. "We are not only preparing our graduates for the future of work; we are equipping them to shape it," he said.
Prof. Afolabi, in his appreciation, honoured Bamidele for prioritising public interest, noting his insights would enrich understanding of the link between digital innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic growth. Bamidele concluded with a rallying cry: "This is the future we are looking forward to. And Nigeria, Africa’s leading nation in all ramification, cannot afford to be left behind."
