Nigerian Youths Will Reverse AI Backwardness, Says ICT Expert

By Godson Ikoro

An artificial intelligence specialist and ICT consultant, Mr. Okoi Okoi Ubi, has said Nigerian youths will change the backward and stunted narrative of AI and ICT deployment across sectors of the economy.

Mr. Okoi made the assertion on Thursday at a capacity-building workshop and empowerment programme organised by the Finance and Business Online Publishers Association, FiBOP, at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Conference Centre, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.
The event targeted Nigerian youths, especially secondary school students in Lagos State.

Fielding questions at the workshop, Mr. Okoi regretted that successive federal governments had neglected AI deployment since the 1960s and 1970s. He said Nigeria had lagged behind countries like China and India, which were at similar levels of development during that period.

“AI use was not rampant in 2010. It was during the presidency of Goodluck Jonathan that Nigeria began to tinker with and deploy AI,” he said, adding that the government has remained lackadaisical about AI adoption.

Despite this, Mr. Okoi expressed optimism that Nigeria’s growing pool of ICT and AI-savvy youths would change the narrative. He noted that current efforts to deploy AI are being driven mainly by private organisations and a few state governments.

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He cited Kano State as an example, where AI-powered tractors are now used for rice planting, replacing manual labour.

Mr. Okoi urged youths to embrace AI and digital studies, stressing that “the future belongs to those who learn, adopt, and innovate with technology.”

In his roadmap to understanding AI, he advised students to acquire skills in computer literacy, digital tools, prompt engineering, data analytics, coding, programming, machine learning basics, and cybersecurity.

He added that AI is already transforming key sectors in Nigeria, including education, transportation, healthcare, banking and finance, and government services.

Earlier in his welcome address, FiBOP President Mr. Charles Onwuatogwu said that despite economic challenges, the association remains optimistic about the future.

“We believe that empowering young people with the right knowledge and skills remains one of the most effective ways of building a stronger and more resilient nation,” he said.

He noted that the workshop theme: Digital Skills, Artificial Intelligence, Online Safety, Insurance, and Financial Literacy for Nigerian Youths reflects competencies essential for success in the modern world. He urged students to maximise the knowledge shared by facilitators.