Nigeria Innovation Summit: Youths urged to meet societal needs with technological innovations

Nigerian youths have been urged to come up with technological innovations which can help solve its myriads of problems. Panellists at the Nigeria Innovation Summit 2017 held in Lagos on Thursday made the call while answering questions from the participants. The participants, majority of who are mainly youths, were drawn from several secondary schools and […]

Nigerian youths have been urged to come up with technological innovations which can help solve its myriads of problems.

Panellists at the Nigeria Innovation Summit 2017 held in Lagos on Thursday made the call while answering questions from the participants.

The participants, majority of who are mainly youths, were drawn from several secondary schools and tertiary institutions within the nation as well as experts in business, education, technology, media and health industries.

Speaking at the event, Nigeria’s Champion of Google Business Group (GBG), Mr. Kaosiso Anaekwe, said “Technology and innovation thrive well in a healthy ecosystem. Nigeria has human, natural and financial resources to become a leader in technology and innovation in the comity of nations but we are nowhere to be found even among many Africans nation.”

“This is largely due to the fact that government do not truly support or invest in technology and innovation in Nigeria. They are yet to understand its importance as to give it all it takes to create an enabling environment that will naturally attract the needed foreign investment” he said further.

Anaekwe added that “technology innovation and entrepreneurship is the only hope for Africa’s survival”.

He said: “Nigeria should wake up to play a leading role with emerging technologies like virtual reality, artificial intelligence, robotic  genomics, as Internet of Things (IoT) increased awareness on crypto-currency, cyber security, data mining and analysis.”

“It is obvious that the next 10 years with the youth driving industrial revolution will create a whole new economy and new industries. This is so evident in what countries like Japan, China, US, South Korea, Germany, Israel and other innovators and game changers are doing.”

L – R: Peter Oluka, Martin Ekpeke, Nahimah Ajikanle Nurudeen and Emma Okonji. Some panellists discussing with the participants on the theme: Innovations in Media Industry in Nigeria at the Nigeria Innovation Summit held today in Lagos. 

Also, the co-Founder of Dot Learn, an edu-tech firm, Mr. Tunde Alawode, said “We believe in young Nigerians who against all odds are doing their best to build a bright future; their stories are shaping how Nigeria and indeed Africa is looked at globally and they are attracting global attention and investment.”

He added: “We have gathered such young Nigerian start-up founders who are exploring opportunity in fintech, edu-tech, health innovations, green energy, open innovation etc. to share their insight.”

“We have distinguished academics, innovators, economists and open innovation experts who are sharing their knowledge and experience to help deepen the drive on technology, innovation and entrepreneurship in Nigeria.”

While fielding questions from participants, the Chief Executive Officer, Research Institute for Innovation and Sustainability (RIIS), South Africa, Mr Davis Cook, said that there was need for Africans to position themselves to tackle their challenges.

“With good political will, and having the right experience and knowledge, Africans can be able to solve their problems.

“Africans have the right demographic power force as regards the youths and there is need to leverage on that force,” he said.

Similarly, the Managing Director, Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria, Mr Muntaqa Umar-Sadiq, called for innovation in the health sector, saying it would help government to save the lives of its citizens.

He said: “The state of health is characterised by poor outcome, quality and lack of protection from financial risk and so it needs new approaches to investment.

“Despite significant investment, there is nothing to show in the health sector as current health programme are inadequate and people are now focusing outside for health providers.”

Umar-Sadiq further added: “We have leveraged on the efficiencies of communication and produced a health space that can help government to save lives.”

It will be recalled that the Nigeria innovation summit is an annual event that helps to create awareness on the need for Nigerian business organizations and entrepreneurs to embrace technology and innovations so as to drive a sustainable economic growth.