Lagos: Senate Majority Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, has called for the establishment of a national digital skills programme to empower Nigerians and boost the country’s competitiveness in the digital economy.
Bamidele made the call while delivering the 37th Convocation Lecture at the Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech) in Lagos on Tuesday, emphasising the need to equip young people with high-demand technological skills.
The convocation was with the theme, “Entrepreneurship Development In the Digital Age: Leveraging Technology for Job Creation and Economic Growth.”
He said the programme could be funded through a small levy on telecommunications and digital service providers, providing a sustainable source of funding for training and skill development.
“The fund will be used to train at least five million young Nigerians in areas such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, cybersecurity, data analytics, and UI/UX design,” Bamidele said.
The guest lecturer added that the National Assembly, as the apex legislative institution, could play a pivotal role in shaping policies to drive digital innovation and job creation across Nigeria.
“The National Assembly can develop legislative and policy frameworks that encourage strong partnerships between local tech hubs and our tertiary institutions,” he said.
Bamidele explained that linking universities to innovation hubs would promote research-to-market initiatives, internships, and the development of job-ready graduates who can contribute to the digital economy.
He stressed the need for the government to strengthen digital infrastructure, including broadband rollout, reliable electricity, and digital payment systems, to enable entrepreneurship nationwide.
“Governments should simplify regulatory regimes for digital businesses, provide tax incentives for early-stage tech ventures, and create sandboxes for experimentation,” he said.
The guest lecturer also called for inclusive digital entrepreneurship, ensuring women, rural youth, school leavers, and persons with disabilities have equal access to opportunities in the tech economy.
In his remark, the Rector of Yabatech, Dr Ibraheem Abdul, described the institution’s transition into a specialised University of Technology and Vocational Training as a historic step for technical education in Nigeria.
According to him, “as we progress steadily toward becoming a university of technology and vocational studies, Yabatech stands on the threshold of a historic transformation.
“In alignment with our new status, we are embarking on transformative initiatives that will redefine teaching, learning, research, and innovation.”
Abdul said the planned National Skills Resource Centre would feature AI and blockchain laboratories, VR and AR studios, smart manufacturing centres, and global vocational certification workshops.
He added that partnerships with international tech companies, venture capital networks, and TVET institutions would fast-track the emergence of globally skilled professionals capable of competing on the global stage.
Abdul noted that the strategic initiatives would stimulate job creation, ignite innovation, and prepare Nigerian graduates to shape the digital economy, describing it as a transformative moment for the nation.
Earlier, Prof. Funso Afolabi, Chairman of the Governing Council, said the Renewed Hope Agenda challenges institutions like Yabatech to rethink traditional learning models.
Afolabi said the college would adopt dynamic, technology-driven systems that would produce innovators, problem-solvers, and job creators.
“We take this responsibility seriously and we’re constantly improving our curriculum, industry partnerships, and research outputs to reflect the demands of the modern economy,
“Today’s lecture offers us an opportunity to deepen the conversation on how technology can drive inclusive growth, reduce unemployment, and stimulate sustainable development across Nigeria,” he said.
