Ali Isa Ibrahim Pantami, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy has advised the youths in the country to utilise their social media wisely instead of engaging in aimless conversations.
The Minister gave the advice while delivering a lecture at Fountain University, Osogbo, on Wednesday, 7th of December.
“Our youths spend their time online socializing, attacking one another, insulting one another, causing disunity in the country. These youths do not partake in courses online, or how to educate themselves better, or courses that are needed in the 21st century revolution”, he lamented.
“There’s no sustainable development without making use of technology. Technology isn’t about replying WhatsApp messages, or chatting or debating on Facebook or tweeting, is to dedicate significant part of your time to critical thinking, analytical thinking, creativity, complex problem solving and many more”, he advised.
He urged the youths to come up with innovative ideas, adding that it is their responsibility to kick-start, and opportunities are there, if only they can utilise it.
Speaking on digital economy and digital youth, and also the imperatives of a sustainable development for the 21st century, the Minister said, “digital economy is as an important aspect of the country, adding that it is about the promotion of digital innovation, and the adoption of digital entrepreneurship.
“In Nigeria, we are blessed with a high youthful population, we are also blessed with digital natives, our young population understands digital technology at least how to manipulate it”.
“We have high institutions of learning but still struggling with the challenge of unemployment and unemployability. This is a challenge in the country”.
“Our youths unemployment is around 42.5%, by implications there are 50% unemployed youths, while general unemployment is 33.33%.
“However, the issue of unemployment also relates with educated ones in the county, graduates with degrees, are still unemployed, who have zero soft skills in the labour market”.
“The digital innovation and entrepreneurship are not about being a potential employee, but about making you a potential employer, who can think critically and be able to solve the country’s economic problems”, he added.
“The whole perception is not to think about how someone can employ you, but rather the perception is how you can employ others”.
“The contribution of digital economy to the growth of a country is higher than the contribution of the general economy, because of the initiatives behind the technology used to facilitate the growth of the country”.
“When that is done, one single person that can be able to come up with a creative idea and implement it. It will create a job for ten thousand Nigerians, and this is what digital innovation is all about”, he stated .
“We have talents and opportunities in Nigeria, but the talents fails to identify the opportunities globally and utilise them. Our system of education should also focus on promoting innovation and entrepreneurship”.
“The 21st century is all about soft skills , where we partake in critical thinking, you need more time to think, while in your classes studying your course of study, try to partake in soft skills, that can be developed even if after graduating from university “, he advised.
Speaking on his latest achievements, the Minister just a launched a book : ” skills rather than just degrees, where he stated that the book was not focused on degrading degrees but also to encourage skills that can grant opportunities after graduating.
