Technology experts have called for digital literacy to be taught from primary school and expanded cybersecurity training for young people in Nigeria.
The experts say equipping young people with digital and cybersecurity skills will not only reduce cybercrime, but also create employment opportunities and strengthen the country’s innovation capacity.
They spoke during a panel session at the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA) Innovative and Scientific Conference on Thursday in Lagos.
One of them, Mr Olukayode Joseph, said Nigeria should complement law enforcement efforts with programmes that identified, retrained and redirected talented youths into productive cybersecurity careers.
Joseph is the Head of Presales at Quomodo Systems Africa, a technology company.
He said many young people possessed exceptional technical abilities, but lacked opportunities to apply their skills positively.
He urged the government and private sector to establish initiatives that equipped interested youths with ethical hacking, cybersecurity and digital security skills.
Joseph said the company had continued to invest in local talent through internship programmes, professional training, conferences and cybersecurity awareness campaigns.
He said the company’s objective was not only to provide cybersecurity solutions, but also to educate businesses, institutions and communities on emerging cyber risks.
“Instead of focusing solely on punishment, we should create pathways that enable talented young people to become ethical hackers, cybersecurity professionals and technology innovators,” he said.
Joseph said cybersecurity awareness should extend beyond urban centres to rural communities, as digital adoption expanded across Nigeria and Africa.
Also, an official at another technology company, SystemSpecs, Mr Adewole Oduwole, said Nigeria’s innovation agenda should focus on investing in people, rather than technology alone.
He said exposing children in primary and secondary schools to creativity, research and problem solving would help develop future innovators.
According to him, innovation should not be limited to major cities because many talented young Nigerians in rural communities simply lack opportunities and exposure.
Oduwole said educational programmes, essay competitions and innovation platforms could help young people identify problems and develop practical solutions.
“Investing in young people will strengthen Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem and create a sustainable pipeline of future technology leaders, “ he said.
On his part, the Chairman of the Nigeria Computer Society, Lagos Chapter, Mr Adeshina Adewole, advocated introducing digital literacy at the primary school level.
He said Nigeria needed a structured digital talent pipeline that connected primary schools, secondary schools and universities.
According to him, such an approach will better prepare young Nigerians for careers in artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, software development and other emerging technologies.
Adewole said some universities, including the University of Lagos, already had facilities, where students designed robots, developed AI applications.
“The university also produced prototypes using three dimensional printing technology, “ he said.
He, however, stressed that stronger collaboration among government, academia and industry was needed to maximise those investments.
“Policy drives innovation, while infrastructure enables innovation to flourish.
“We must build a complete digital talent pipeline from primary schools to universities if Nigeria is to compete globally,” he said.
The stakeholders agreed that Nigeria’s growing digital economy would require sustained investment in human capital alongside technological infrastructure.
