The Leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele, has urged policymakers, educators, and the private sector to prioritise digital competence and entrepreneurial development, warning that it is no longer sustainable for governments to absorb all university and polytechnic graduates into white-collar employment.
Speaking recently at Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, Bamidele said global economic realities show that the digital economy has become the primary driver of growth, innovation, and job creation. He noted that young people must increasingly rely on technology-driven skills to remain relevant in a rapidly changing labour market.
According to him, emerging fields such as blockchain technology, data analytics, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, web development, cloud computing, and digital marketing now offer vast opportunities for employment, wealth creation, and global competitiveness.
Bamidele called for a renewed focus on entrepreneurship education, technical skill development, and creative innovation across all levels of the education system, stressing that graduates must be prepared to create value rather than wait for government jobs.
He encouraged young Nigerians to take advantage of the digital age, describing it as a period in which access to global markets, remote work opportunities, and online learning platforms has significantly lowered traditional barriers to entry.
The Senate leader further appealed to Federal and State Governments to integrate digital skills training into secondary and tertiary education, including technical and vocational programmes. He added that such efforts must be supported with seed capital, policy incentives, and an enabling environment for digital startups to thrive.
He also challenged educators to modernise academic curricula by removing outdated structures and ensuring that students graduate with practical digital competence, entrepreneurial mindsets, and awareness of global market demands, rather than certificates alone.
On the role of the private sector, Bamidele emphasised the need for stronger collaboration with educational institutions through internships, industry-aligned training, and investment in regional innovation hubs that can nurture talent and drive technological advancement.
He referenced recent legislative frameworks, including the National Digital Economy and E-Governance Act, 2024, and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission Act, 2025, as key policy tools designed to support Nigeria’s digital transformation.
Bamidele noted that countries that prioritise innovative knowledge and technical skills for young people have recorded rapid economic growth, citing emerging economies in Asia as examples Nigeria can emulate. He stressed that entrepreneurship training, digital education, creative innovation, problem-solving, managerial capacity, and interpersonal skills must be embedded in curricula from primary through tertiary levels.
Academics have echoed these views, describing digital education as critical to employability, innovation, and long-term national development.
A lecturer in Broadcasting at Lagos State University, Dr Aiyegusi Monsurat, called for the full integration of digital learning into academic curricula. She advocated the provision of laptops, reliable internet access, and continuous professional training for educators, alongside strong investment in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education.
She noted that every discipline should incorporate digital applications, with students exposed to real-life problem-solving through partnerships between educational institutions and industry. She added that regular workshops, symposiums, and training programmes would enhance lecturers’ digital capacity and improve teaching outcomes.
Similarly, the Head of the Department of Political Science at LASU, Dr Moshood Babatunde, said digital skills are now essential for relevance in a highly competitive global labour market. He urged the Federal Government to invest substantially in digital education infrastructure to enable institutions to train students effectively and reduce dependence on foreign expertise.
Also speaking, Prof Dapo Thomas of the Department of History and International Studies, LASU, stressed that access to digital tools must go beyond theory to consistent practice. He noted that students require continuous exposure to laptops and technology to apply their skills productively and responsibly.
According to him, digital education has become a core component of tertiary scholarship, essential not only for certification but for meaningful participation in today’s knowledge-driven economy.