The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, Z holds the belief that the youth of the country constitute its greatest asset. He asserts that with appropriate support, they have the potential to transform the world.
During his address at the Independence Anniversary event hosted by the Platform in Lagos on Monday, he emphasized that Africa boasts a substantial youth demographic, with Nigeria accounting for a significant portion. Many of these youths are proficient in technology.
“If you have a second passport and you live in another country, you would find probably ten software engineers in Lagos before you find one in the UK in your cycle. Or if you are in the US, before you find one software engineer there, you would find ten in Lagos, or in Nairobi, or in Jo’burg. That’s the reality,” he said during the event tagged ‘Africa Rising Continent – Nigeria’s Strategic Role’.
“We are the future. And you know why we are the future here? We are a continent of 1.2 billion and forty percent of those are young people – across Africa – I believe under the age of 25. And this is where Nigeria is important. It is not just that we show off for the sake of showing off.”
“In Nigeria, it is 60 per cent of our 220 million people who are under the age of 25 which means we have the ingredient that is actually going to power the world because these young people are digital natives. And if we give them the resources, they can actually become that engine that the world requires to be able to strive.”
The minister acknowledged the nation’s human capital, highlighting that Nigerians can be found in leading academic institutions worldwide.
“There is no top academic institution in the world that you don’t see a Nigerian,” he added.
Commending Nigerians for their determination to create a positive influence., Bosun said, “Most Nigerians are always restless no matter how much they have achieved. They always want to contribute”.