Following globally emerging trends in technology, the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, recently stressed the need for the deployment of technology as a solution to the wide unemployment gap in the country, which appears a bit controversial.
Speaking at the 5th A.M. Agoro Entrepreneurship Lecture Series (AMAELS) titled “Leveraging technology for business success and growth,” in Lagos on Saturday, he said, “Nigeria is a country with a lot of youths that are unemployed.
"We must harness technology to ensure that people are employed and are in business.”
According to the deputy governor, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, of Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), Dr Shakirudeen Onasanya, efficiency and effectiveness of technology are pivotal to the success of any business operations.
“We talk of improved output; we talk of improved outcome even as well as what you send to the society,” he said.
Hamzat noted that diverse technology must be tapped into to improve capacity and production.
“Technology is not based on information technology but there are issues of science-based technology as well as engineering-based technology.
"Science-based technology can be applied to animal husbandry and high-yielding crops.
"You can also look at engineering; the issue of electrical, the issue of factorisation in agriculture, even the issue of solar energy and so on.”
According to the deputy governor, technology should be deployed to achieve sustainable development.
“Sustainable development also has to do with how you can use technology in your business to achieve all-round success not only economically but also environmentally.
"These are some of the issues we have to leverage in the issue of technology,” he posited.
"The chairman of the event and Chairman of Caverton Helicopters Plc, Chief Aderemi Makanjuola, said the theme of the lecture was timely because of the role technology had assumed globally in pushing the frontiers of businesses.
“We need to see technology as transformational.
"Technology helps improve everything and it shouldn’t be looked at as a bad thing.
"Technology is to help processes and develops people even better.
"If we can digitalise our processes, we can reach far more.
"So, technology is a good thing and we must apply it to business.”
She urged the new government to see the importance of businesses, especially entrepreneurs with the economic development of the states and nation and give necessary support in terms of business training, grants and business opportunities.
“This is very important for the economic development of any society,” she stated.
Makanjuola, who was represented by the CEO of Caverton Offshore Support Group, Bode Makanjuola, urged the incoming administration to “provide a leverage platform for Small and Medium Enterprises and young people to progress and express their entrepreneurial zeal in making the country better.”
She added that young people know what they want but they need technology to achieve that dream.
Historically, technology has been known for rendering unskilled workers redundant.
If you picture the Bronze Age, those with pre-Bronze Age skills (the Stone Age guys) became redundant as their skills were no longer needed.
In the Iron Age also, those with Bronze Age skills soon fizzled out.
During the Industrial Revolution, the same pattern repeated itself. Presently, under the Information Age, technology is ferociously threatening a lot of jobs (for instance, imagine what ChatGPT is doing!).
Specifically, we can ask the following questions:
So, the premise of this article dwells on a thorough analysis of contemporary trends prior to sensational public statements.
Instead, it would be ideal to start tuning the mindsets of our youths towards acquiring entrepreneurial skills that can stand the test of time.
This can only be the way to go.
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