At The Roundtable Lekki, convened recently at the Church of God Mission International, Garden City, Lekki, Lagos, technology experts and industry leaders gathered to discuss how Nigerian youths can leverage the tech space for career advancement. The event, themed “Winning Through Innovation: The Tech Advantage,” brought together key figures including Interswitch founder Mitchell Elegbe and Future Africa founding partner Iyinoluwa Aboyeji.
Tech as a Solution to Unemployment
Experts described the current tech landscape as one of the simplest avenues for job creation and unemployment reduction. They encouraged young Nigerians to seize opportunities to solve personal and societal problems through technology. Mitchell Elegbe emphasized that building tech-driven solutions in a growing business environment like Nigeria and Africa could address rising unemployment and enhance global competitiveness. He noted that for any business to thrive, proper strategy, innovation, and service delivery are essential. Regarding artificial intelligence, Elegbe stated, “Like every new technology, AI has its good and bad sides. AI boosts productivity but could change how we work, potentially displacing some jobs.”
Productivity Through Technology
Iyinoluwa Aboyeji argued that adopting technology increases productivity and efficiency. “If you adopt technology, it makes you more productive. You can do things faster and better than those who do not use it,” he said. Drawing a parallel to the advent of computers, he added, “People simply had to learn how to use computers to become as efficient as those already using them.” Addressing fears about AI, Aboyeji asserted, “AI is not coming for your job, but if you don’t learn it, the people who have learned AI will come for your job.”
Empowering Youths for Economic Independence
Convener Chris Ubamadu explained that the event aimed to solve societal problems by increasing people’s earning capacity and reducing poverty. Host and Zonal Coordinator of CGMI Victoria Island Zone, Osas Obarisiagbon, stressed that the focus on technology this year was strategic. “Technology provides leverage for Nigerians, especially young people, to become technically self-employed and independent, rather than waiting for government jobs,” he said. He noted that the Internet created more millionaires than the industrial revolution, and predicted that AI would produce even more. “Our aim is to open people’s eyes to the opportunities in the tech world,” he added.
Accessibility and Innovation
Chairman of the organizing committee, Omoregie Samuel, highlighted the era of rapid technological evolution where technology is highly accessible regardless of economic status or location. Advising youths, he noted, “No matter how saturated you think the tech sector is, there is always space for everyone. There is always an opportunity to innovate and create solutions that make a difference.”
