Sanwo-Olu urges youths to embrace technology to boost potential
By Felicia Nwosu
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has urged youths to leverage the various technological and empowerment initiatives provided by both the private sector and the state government, to realise their potential.
Sanwo-Olu stated this when he paid an unscheduled visit to the recently concluded 3rd edition of Zenith Bank Techfair that was held at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos. The governor, who was both surprised and elated at the turnout of the participants, commended the organisers and also acknowledged the exceptional roles they play.
He added that with such strategic events like the Techfair, which is geared towards helping youths to disrupt their ecosystem with technology, they should rest assured to reach the pinnacles of their desired career goals.
Sanwo-Olu, who was at the Eko Hotels for the Dubai Chamber’s office opening in Lagos, made a brief stop over at Techfair to acknowledge the strategic move by the bank to impact on the youths through technology.
“First, let me acknowledge the entire leadership and management team of Zenith Bank for diminishing fees to continue to do this for the great tech youth population of our country.”
He also commended the youths for taking the bold step to attend the event and urged them to lead as future-forward thinkers while leveraging the emergent opportunities.
“Let me also acknowledge all of you, from diverse backgrounds, who have made for the time to be here and resource yourselves together, to be able to think forward all of the issues and solutions that this country truly really needs. Let me end my prologue by just saying that I’ve also seen the great things that are happening out here. To say that an opportunity like this has gone, I should never miss it.”
Sanwo-Olu took the opportunity to share some of the impactful projects accomplished so far by his administration as empowerment programmes.
“Just recently, I graduated 4,596 youths in Bureau of Skills Acquisitions that we have all around the state. They have no better time than now that they can indeed write their own future by ensuring that the opportunity the state government has given to them, they can take it forward and they can run with it.
“I think that is what this Tech Fair is all about. It’s about an opportunity that Zenith has provided for all of you. It’s an opportunity for you to be able to think out of the box, to be able to talk among your peers, and to be able to design that future that you want. To be able to ask yourself, what are those things that we believe will change our future for the better. What are those innovations? What are those creative things? What are those tech-related interventions that will make the world a lot more global?”
Mr. Sanwo-Olu also highlighted some of the laudable partnership initiatives the state in its undaunted nature has taken to foster skill acquisition, economic growth and promote human capital development. He charged the youths to embrace these developmental catalyst to propel their future growth.
“Nigerians and the Russians can indeed be players. In the entire world, it is a global cleanup and this is what the Israeli tech fair has provided for you. So please, I want you to enjoy all of this. Ensure that there’s an active participation that you put forward. Ensure that you can collaborate, you can engage, you can ensure that you create 20, 30, 40 new friends out of an interaction and engagement like this. That you can take those engagement forward and you can share in a lot of the ideas that you have.
“Some other persons might have been doing something that you’re just looking for somebody that will help you out in that area. This is the kind of thing that this tech fair will do for you. I’m sure there’s still going to be a hackathon in which there will be pitch, there will be ideas, there will be innovation, there will be conversation around ensuring that it is going to be successful.”
Ebenezer Onyeagwu, the GMD, Zenith Bank, while welcoming the governor to the fair, described him as the Chief Solution Architect for Lagos State.
“In the world of technology and digital application, one of the constants is agility. from the constant agility that things happen at the speed of light. We did not extend any invitation to him, not as a result of distress, fate or anything, because of his very crowded busy schedule. But by fate, he had a programme here and the moment he heard about the fact that there is a tech fair going on being organized by Zenith, he sent a message across that he would be here,” Onyeagwu explained.
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