FG, Obasanjo charge youths to embrace AI, education for devt
Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has called on African youths to embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI), to advance their professions.
Obasanjo made the call while answering questions from participants at the fifth edition of the Presidential Youth Mentoring Retreat, held in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The retreat was held at the Youth Development Centre, Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta and drew participants from Nigeria and some African countries.
Obasanjo said: “If I’m your age or I’m between 20 and 35 years and I don’t have a lot of money, I will zero in on AI.
“I know that this is 2024 and that by 2040, that’s 15 years from now, the number of driverless vehicles on the road in the world will increase because of AI. What the AI will be doing will be unimaginable.
“Somebody tried AI for me, and he asked me to write a lecture on a subject. I was surprised. AI wrote the lecture, and he showed it to me. He asked AI to correct the lecture, and it corrected the lecture, and that lecture was perfect. If I were your age, and I have not settled for something, I will go for AI. I know that by the year 2040, I will not be alive by then, I thank God for that.”
Guest speaker, an entrepreneur, Dr Ifeanyi Stanley, highlighted some factors to success, which include mentorship, integrity, hard work, humility, consistency, risk-taking, divine guidance, a positive mindset, and constant upgrading, among others.
IN another development, the Federal Government has advised youths to make conscious efforts towards contributing their quota to democracy and nation-building, stressing that leadership plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of any country.
Speaking in Abeokuta, the state capital during a youth reorientation programme for secondary school students, tagged, “The Next Generation Project”, a Senior Special Assistant to the President, Ms Rinsola Abiola, said President Bola Tinubu had the love of young people at heart and was committed to empowering the youth for a prosperous nation.
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She stated that youths should aim to become active citizens, who contribute to national development by fulfilling civic obligations and also participating in community development efforts and other beneficial activities.
“I would also like to encourage you to consider careers in politics and public service, as it remains a highly effective way to contribute to building the Nigeria of our dreams,” she said.
She urged youths to strive to learn skills that could enhance their economic potential and seek out opportunities for personal growth and advancement.
Also speaking at the event, the state Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof Abayomi Arigbabu, stated that engaging and empowering youths was essential to fostering the next generation of leaders, innovators, and responsible citizens.
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