The Competitiveness of Nigerian Youths in a Global eConomy

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The Competitiveness of Nigerian Youths in a
Global eConomy

• Gbenga Sesan
• Nigerias IT Youth Ambassador
• www.gbengasesan.com me_at_gbengasesan.com

Youth Empowerment Forum for Digital
Revolution Zenith Bank The University of Lagos.
June 19, 2003.
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INTRODUCTION
The New Economy has come to stay, and it has no
respect for colour, age, location, or even
influence. It is knowledge-driven, and must be
prepared for. The difference between the haves
and have nots in the days to come will not be
decided by the resources in any nations soil or
airspace, but by the preparedness of her youth
who span between today and tomorrow. Hence the
need to consider the competitiveness of Nigerian
youths in a Global eConomy the New Economy,
which is guided by the philosophy of boundless
existence and is driven mostly by knowledge,
information, communication and technology.
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The NIGERIAN Youth

• The Nigerian youth is a Nigerian. He must not
  only consider what his parents or the community
  can do for him but must consider what we can do
  for our nation
• The Nigerian Youth is under-equipped schools
  curricula, laboratories, teaching aids,
  educational system, etc
• but most young Nigerians have proved that we
  are smart despite the poor exposure news from
  other countries about Nigerians, ITU Africa 2001,
  etc
• Smartness misdirected is folly wearing an
  overall with Self Deceit written on it stay
  away from smartness that can disgrace you or
  eliminate your enviable future

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A Case for Global Competitiveness

• Nigerian youths are Global citizens. Your
  background/past is not an excuse to ignore the
  future you wish to attain
• Personal Development is the key to career
  relevance, nation building and global
  participation, eg Emeagwali
• There are numerous opportunities for personal
  development on the web stop browsing, start
  converting data to information, eg
  bbc.co.uk/webwise, ocw.web.mit.edu, search for
  anything
• The whole world will stand aside for a man who
  knows where hes going success is not being
  lucky, its preparing while others are resting,
  going the extra mile

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THANK YOU
I see a New Nigeria emerging one that is built
on the labours of our past heroes, hewn out of
the debris of the present waste and built by the
strength of tomorrows leaders the youth. These
young people, though unknown today, are equipping
themselves with appropriate new economy and
information technology skills that will position
them for personal development, nation building,
regional cooperation and global participation.