DistantNews
Support us
🇳🇬 Nigeria /Technology

FG urges students to embrace AI, coding as NELFUND disburses N282bn

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • The Nigerian government urges students to embrace digital skills like AI and coding to compete globally.
  • This call was made during a program promoting the Tinubu administration's Renewed Hope Agenda for youth empowerment.
  • The government is investing in education reforms and initiatives like NELFUND to foster innovation and entrepreneurship.

The Nigerian Federal Government is urging students to embrace artificial intelligence, coding, robotics, and other digital skills to position the country for the global knowledge economy. This initiative is part of the Renewed Hope Students’ Engagement and Digital Acceleration Programme.

The Renewed Hope Agenda recognises that the greatest resource of any nation is not merely its natural endowments but the intelligence, creativity and innovative capacity of its people, especially its youth.

— Minister of Innovation, Science and TechnologyHighlighting the government's view on the importance of youth and innovation.

During the South-East Zone event held at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, selected students received laptops to boost digital learning. The program brought together government officials, student leaders, academics, and development partners to discuss youth empowerment and digital transformation under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Udeh, represented by Dr. Ijeoma Eze, emphasized that Nigeria must invest heavily in innovation and technology to compete internationally. He highlighted the administration's commitment to transforming Nigeria into a globally competitive, innovation-driven, and technology-powered economy through education and digital development programs. Initiatives like NELFUND, HOPE-EDU, and the Nigerian Learning Passport are part of these reforms.

The future belongs to innovators, creators, problem-solvers and entrepreneurs, not merely certificate holders.

— Minister of Innovation, Science and TechnologyChallenging students to move beyond conventional academic qualifications and embrace technological skills.

The minister stressed that the future belongs to innovators and problem-solvers, challenging students to use technology for national transformation. He encouraged them to learn coding, master AI tools, develop software, build solutions, acquire cybersecurity skills, explore robotics, and create digital enterprises to solve local problems with global technologies. Universities, research institutes, and industries are also urged to strengthen collaboration for commercializing research and creating wealth.

I therefore challenge every student gathered here today to embrace technology as a tool for national transformation rather than mere entertainment. Learn coding. Master Artificial Intelligence tools. Develop software applications. Build innovative solutions. Acquire cybersecurity skills. Explore robotics. Create digital enterprises. Solve local problems using global technologies.

— Minister of Innovation, Science and TechnologyDirectly urging students to acquire specific digital skills for national development.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog