FG Urges Nigerian Students to Master AI, Coding and Robotics, Says Digital Skills Are the Future
FG Urges Nigerian Students to Master AI, Coding and Robotics, Says Digital Skills Are the Future
The Federal Government has called on Nigerian students to embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI), coding, robotics, cybersecurity, and other digital skills as part of a broader strategy to prepare the country’s youth for opportunities in the global digital economy.
The appeal was made during the Renewed Hope Students’ Engagement and Digital Acceleration Programme for the South-East Zone, held at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus (UNEC). The programme also featured the distribution of laptop computers to selected students to support digital learning, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
The event brought together government officials, student leaders, academics, innovators, and development partners to discuss youth empowerment, technological advancement, and education financing under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Representing the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Udeh, the Public Relations Officer of the Projects Development Institute (PRODA), Dr. Ijeoma Eze, stressed that Nigeria must invest aggressively in innovation, research, and technology to remain competitive on the global stage.
According to the minister, the Tinubu administration is focused on transforming Nigeria into a technology-driven and innovation-powered economy through strategic investments in education and digital development.
He highlighted several government initiatives designed to improve access to education and enhance human capital development. These include the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), HOPE-EDU, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), the National Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI), Universal Basic Education (UBE), and the Nigerian Learning Passport.
“The greatest strength of any nation lies not only in its natural resources but in the creativity, intelligence, and innovative capacity of its people, especially the youth,” he said.
The minister also disclosed that the Federal Government had launched the third phase of the YouthCred Initiative, aimed at providing collateral-free loans ranging from ₦200,000 to ₦2 million to about 500,000 young entrepreneurs, enabling them to establish and expand businesses.
Encouraging students to prepare for the future, he urged them to move beyond the pursuit of academic certificates alone and develop practical digital competencies.
“The future belongs to innovators, creators, entrepreneurs, and problem-solvers,” he said.
He challenged students to take advantage of modern technology by learning software development, mastering Artificial Intelligence tools, building digital products, acquiring cybersecurity expertise, exploring robotics, and creating innovative solutions capable of addressing local and global challenges.
He further called for stronger collaboration among universities, research institutions, and industries to ensure research findings are commercialised and transformed into wealth, employment, and sustainable economic growth.
Earlier, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Students’ Engagement, Comrade Sunday Daya, said the initiative was designed to strengthen engagement between the Federal Government and Nigerian students while preparing young people for emerging opportunities in the digital economy.
According to him, President Tinubu believes Nigeria’s greatest asset is its youthful population, making investment in education and digital innovation a national priority.
“Our goal is to ensure Nigerian students are not merely consumers of technology but innovators, entrepreneurs, and creators of solutions that will transform society,” Daya stated.
One of the highlights of the programme was the presentation of laptop computers to outstanding students to enhance learning, innovation, and entrepreneurial development.
Speaking at the event, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Akintunde Sawyerr, revealed that more than 1.7 million students have applied for the Federal Government’s student loan scheme since its introduction.
He disclosed that approximately 1.5 million applications have already been processed, while the agency has disbursed over ₦282 billion to beneficiaries across 288 tertiary institutions nationwide.
According to him, more than ₦183 billion has been paid directly to institutions to cover tuition fees, while nearly ₦98 billion has been released to students as upkeep allowances.
Sawyerr clarified that the student loan scheme is interest-free, and beneficiaries are only expected to begin repayment after securing employment. He added that repayments automatically stop if a beneficiary loses his or her job, stressing that the programme was designed to reduce the financial burden on parents and improve access to higher education.
He also announced plans to significantly expand the programme through collaboration with the National Assembly, increasing the number of beneficiaries to approximately seven million by extending coverage to vocational institutions and skills acquisition centres.
The NELFUND boss acknowledged that while the initiative continues to grow, discussions remain ongoing regarding institutional fee structures and refund mechanisms as the government works to strengthen the programme.
The Federal Government reaffirmed its commitment to equipping Nigerian students with the digital knowledge and practical skills needed to compete successfully in an increasingly technology-driven global economy.
Published by: ProlificX Premium Network
