The Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Lagos State, Tolani Sule, has emphasised the need for youths to be exposed to the latest trends, tools and methodologies to operate on the cutting edge attainable in the technology industry.
Harping on the need for collaboration between technology and tertiary institutions, he said such partnerships would ensure that students are not only grounded in theory but also equipped with practical skills that are directly applicable to the workforce.
He disclosed this at the Payaza Fintech Hackathon 2.0, themed, ‘Empowering Africa: Leveraging Generative AI for a Tailored Financial Journey’, held in Lagos. He noted that due to the universal curriculum, there is a need for connections that can only take place through the help of technology.
“By partnering with academic institutions, companies can tap into the vast pool of research talent that exists within these institutions, accelerating the pace of technological advancement,” he said.
Product Marketing Manager, Payaza, Margaret Cole, stated that the Hackathon sought to bridge the gap between young talents and an ecosystem that can incubate, grow and establish them.
“The tech industry is almost always interested in established, experienced and ready-to-use talent and this leaves little or no room for young nascent talents with so much potential and hunger with no opportunity to nurture, grow and demonstrate their skills in the right environment,” she said.
On the reason behind the theme, she said: “The future of AI is today, it is this very moment as we speak. AI will soon become the new way of life transcending all sectors and industries. And Payaza is in the business of providing payment solutions using up-to-date technologies and infrastructure so our customers’ needs are met. It is only logical that we begin to seek solutions that are AI embedded so we can achieve this goal.”
The winning team, Iya Finance, was awarded $5,000. The fist runner-up, Naya, received $3,000 and the third finalist, Enigma, went home with $1,500. All the teams present at the finale received $100 for participation and other cash gifts.
