Int’l Youth Day: Embrace potentials in technology, CAN urges youths

The Youth Wing of Christian Association of Nigeria (YOWICAN) has urged Nigerian youths to embrace the potentials in technology for the growth and development of the country.

Chairman of YOWICAN, Enugu Chapter, Mr Samuel Ani, stated this in a statement issued on Monday in Enugu.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that International Youth Day is dedicated to recognizing the potential, accomplishments and contributions of young people worldwide, and celebrated every Aug. 12.

NAN also reports that this year’s celebration is with the theme: “From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development.”

Ani, who described youths as drivers of sustainable development through digitization and stressed need for giving them the platform and the opportunities to explore in today’s technological trends.

He noted that youths formed the largest population of the society and should, therefore, be integrated into all aspects of developmental process.

According to him, all over the world, young people are showing greatness through their creative minds, as they are harnessing technology to create sustainable solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges.

He said that the theme of this year’s celebration highlighted the key connection between digitization and accelerating the progress of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), emphasizing the crucial contributions of young people in the transformative process.

“Digital transformation is one of the six key transitions with catalytic and multiplier effects across the SDGs and a significant determinant for achieving the goals.

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“Technologies like mobile devices, digital platforms and emerging innovations, such as artificial intelligence, play a crucial role in advancing the SDGs.

“Data generated from every digital interaction is fundamental to digital transformation, enabling evidence-based decision-making,” he said.

Ani said that the challenges, such as digital divide, had remained persistent because young people were often considered ‘digital natives’, being at the forefront of adopting and innovating with new technologies.

“They form the largest demographic group of users and developers shaping digital trends globally.

“As the 2030 deadline for the SDGs approaches, youth remain an essential demographic group in leveraging the transformative power of technologies to address global challenges,” he said.

He YOWICAN chairman said that the organization was pleased with Gov. Peter Mbah and his team for the good work they were doing in Enugu State.

According to him, the governor’s firm belief in the youth and their creative minds, especially in the area of digitization, has paved way for sustainable development in the state within his short period in office.

He encouraged the youth in the state to put their hands on the plough of sustainable development through digitization.