Digital experts encourage youths to leverage on tech opportunities

Digital experts have encouraged youths in Nigeria to leverage on opportunities in the technology space.

The call which was made at the DigifyPro Africa brainstorming session held in Lagos, was themed “Industry 4.0 Unleashed: Technologies, Opportunities and Skills.”

Speaking at the event, Florence Olumodimu, country and programme director for Nigeria, DigifyAfrica said it is important for Nigerian graduates to be armed with the necessary digital skills to ensure that their knowledge is marketable.

“With the advancement in technology, it is important to equip Nigerian graduates
with essential skills for the digital workplace. It is for this reason the Digifyng initiative was started four years ago. With each cohort, we strive to inject the marketing communications industry with well-trained Digify Pro graduates armed with cutting-edge skills and a fresh burst of energy,” she said.

Olumodimu further explained that social media marketing and management skills are critical nowadays as the marketing and communication industry is fast-changing.

“Through our programmes, we have empowered young Nigerian graduates with different digital marketing skills. At Digify Africa, our mission is to contribute towards the reduction of youth unemployment, with a goal to train young Africans in skills that are in demand and enable them to create sustainable livelihoods in the digital economy,” she said.

While speaking during the panel discussion, Bidemi Ladipo, head portfolio management (Solutions), Airtel Nigeria, said tech skills are must-have for graduates in the country. He stated that the rate at which the tech industry is growing it is important for serious minded graduates to position themselves for different opportunities in the sector.

“In the fast-evolving landscape of the digital era, acquiring relevant skills is imperative for individuals seeking to navigate and excel in the professional realm,” he said.

Also, Obinna Okerekeocha, director of content, Moniepoint Inc. said content creation is central to the development of marketing and communications. Hence organisations are constantly in search of creative content creators. “The digital economy is huge and there are many ways to make money by creating value through creating creative contents,” he said.

Supported by Meta, DigifyPro has been a beacon for over 565 graduates across Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa since its inception in 2017.