Ijeoma Olorunfemi
Thrive Agric has urged the Federal Government to implement policy reforms, strengthen funding mechanisms and deepen integration of basic technology skills education in schools.
The Chief Executive Officer of Thrive Agric, Mr Uka Eje, made the call at the third edition of the Abuja Tech Converge(ATC).
Eje said widespread basic technology skills education would accelerate Nigeria’s digital transformation and unlock opportunities for young people.
He noted that Nigeria had abundant tech talent, but effective knowledge transfer required deliberate policies exposing the youth to practical learning and employability skills.
“The private institutions are willing to train people, but government should link them to the right people, especially universities and technical colleges,” he said.
Eje stressed that technology skills training must go beyond corporate environments and be embedded across schools nationwide.
“The government has done well with entrepreneurship education, but you can be enterprising without access to finance to fund your business,” he said.
According to him, technology education advances learning in product management and software development within existing school environments.
Eje said government must prioritise technology education at primary, secondary and tertiary levels to bridge skills gaps and enhance global competitiveness.
On funding, he said many start-ups lacks training and structure to attract investors, despite the presence of venture capitalists.
“Many venture capitalists are ready to invest but struggle to find businesses that are investment-ready,” he said.
Mr Akintunde Akinwande, Head of Digital at OCP Africa, said technology is vital for addressing infrastructure challenges, especially in agriculture.
“Developing solutions is not the difficult part; getting people to use them is the real challenge,” Akinwande said.
He urged government to establish nationwide co-creation hubs and co-develop policies with the private sector to strengthen innovation ecosystems.
The Abuja Tech Converge 3.0, with the theme ‘Beyond Buzzwords: Demystifying Emerging Tech for Real Impact’, was organised by Thrive Agric with OCP Africa. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo
