Tech clubs inaugurated in 20 secondary schools in Abuja

Tech clubs have been inaugurated in 20 secondary schools across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

This was done at an event to mark the International Day of the African Child 2024.

The event, organized by the Africado Foundation, also featured an intergenerational dialogue on national development with the theme ‘Which Way Nigeria?’, and also a national debate championship final.

Richardson Ojeka, Founder of Africado Foundation, spoke on the need for a saviour generation.

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“What must the saviour do? The saviour must be set apart. He mustn’t follow the rest. The saviour must be selfless, he mustn’t think for him or herself alone. He must think for other people. He must think about what he can do the people.

“There was a time I sold my car twice to run my company. The saviour must be selfless. It’s not about yourself.”

Dr. Wale Adekanye, Special Adviser to the Senate President on Health, highlighted the need for Nigeria’s education system to prioritize skills training and innovation to prepare young people for the future.

Ene Obi, former Country Director of Action Aid Nigeria (AAN), emphasized the need for young people’s involvement in decision-making

She said: “I would say that there’s a significant gap in terms of inclusion. Are these young people involved in decision-making, even down to the educational sector? Often, very old people are making these decisions.

“For instance, when decisions are made regarding school feeding programmes, I wonder who was involved in these decisions. Was a needs assessment conducted to understand what these young people need

“Inclusion is crucial. When developing policies, who are the major stakeholders involved? Policies are announced without consulting those who are most affected. For example, young people suffering from the consequences of oil spillage are not included in decision-making.”

Dr. Lanre Phillips, CEO of Elpee Consults, urged young people to persevere despite challenges.

“Every day should be about fostering diversity and inclusion, but it doesn’t happen for many reasons. This means we’ve failed you. If we can’t provide what you need, we’ve failed as parents and as a government.

“However, this is our country. I’ve spoken in 27 countries, and while other places might seem better, they also have their challenges. You need to work within the confines of the government’s policies and make decisions that include you.

“Despite discouragement, there are still opportunities. Some of your peers excel in robotics and AI. The current challenges can make you stronger.”

Akin Akinbisola, founder of Youth Employ & Development Initiative, stressed the importance of skills development.

He said, “The World Economic Forum has stated that future work will be determined by skills, not degrees. Many current jobs will be obsolete by the time the next generation reaches university.

“We need to find a balance and adapt to these changes. Young people in other countries are exposed to innovative education from a young age, fostering critical thinking.

“In Nigeria, we lack such exposure, putting our youth at a disadvantage. It’s crucial for young people here to take personal development seriously. Policies are often made without proper implementation, leading to corruption.”

Benjamin Ogbaji, Programme Officer of Africado Foundation, called for greater collaboration to address the issue of out-of-school children.

He said: “We urge the government to collaborate with us as we reach out to communities with a high number of out-of-school children to provide them with educational skills and technological knowledge for the future. We are advocating for the implementation of more policies aimed at addressing the issue of out-of-school children.”