By IBUKUN EMIOLA
IBADAN- STEM experts have tasked the Nigerian youth to focus on their dreams, so as to create solutions to the nation’s challenges through digital knowledge.
They stated this at the closing of the April edition of Youth Empowerment Project on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) related skills organised by Shining Stars Initiative International (SSII) in Ibadan.
Mr Adedamola Falade-Fatila, an Engineer and Guest Speaker, at the event urged the youth on ‘Awakening the Giants Within them’.
He noted that everyone had a giant within to be unleashed through adequate knowledge about life.
Falade-Fatila, a former Chairman, Nigeria Society of Engineers, Oyo State branch, urged the youth to “make decisions on what they want to be and where they want to be and take conscious actions to reach their goals no matter what.”
Also, Mr Opeyemi Sanwo-Olu, a global food expert and one of the principal mentors of SSII appreciated the group for consistently looking for opportunities to empower youths in Oyo State and Nigeria.
“IT skills are very important in our world today. You can see technology is behind many innovations in Nigeria today; whether it is your school , in your business or in future employment you may be seeking, IT is a prerequisite to be successful.
“The skills you have learnt should be applied and further developed to create more opportunities for yourselves.
“If opportunities don’t come knocking, build a door of opportunity yourself as Milton Berle said ‘Don’t use this skill to only seek employment, think of how you can convert this skill to offer services to people’.
“This is why it is empowerment training,” Sanwo-Olu said.
One of the training facilitators, Mr Olugbenga Oyewumi, said innovation in digital knowledge was important in today’s world.
“This training in STEM has prepared participants to be problem solvers, which will help them to create wealth.
“And, also contribute to the economic development of Nigeria,” Oyewumi said.
Earlier in her address, Mrs Omokehinde Deji-Akinpelu, an engineer and convener of the event said the world was in the IT age and digital knowledge has become increasingly significant in all human endeavours.
“Although many of the Nigerian youths are computer literate, surprisingly, some still lack requisite skills that could position them for better employability and productivity.
“In this edition, we focused on empowering undergraduates and fresh graduates on STEM-related skills to tackle this challenge.
“People who are good at their work are admired and always in demand.
Hence, there are a lot of benefits they stand to gain If they put these skills into good use.
“Again, I am appealing to meaningful Nigerians, home and abroad, organisations and government; to support us.
“We always have many registrations from different parts of the country, but we could only accommodate a few because of the limited facilities and funds,” she said.
Two of the participants, Dolapo Makanjuola, an undergraduate student from the University of Ibadan and Jonah Usanga from Cross Rivers appreciated the organiser of the training.
“The world now is digital and the training will complement my formal education. I have been equipped to work remotely and earn money, ” Usanga said. (NAN)
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