By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
Co-Founder of Flutterwave and Founder of Future Africa, Mr Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, has declared that over 100 million people in Africa are currently earning living through digital economy.
Mr Aboyeji made this known on Wednesday, while speaking under the theme, “Entrepreneurship and The Challenges of The African Child” at the auditorium of Precious Cornerstone University (PCU), Ibadan, during this year’s Dorcas Oke Hope Alive Initiative (DOHAL) Foundation Day,
He pointed out at the initiative put in place by Bishop Francis Wale Oke of Sword of The Spirit Ministry that to meet some needs of African youths that “digital economy is the panacea to the economy tension in Africa occasioned by bad leadership and governance.”
According to him, “by 2035, Africa will have the largest and the youngest workforce in the world” .
Mr Aboyeji however tasked youths to acquire skills that could guarantee their economic freedom in future and that Nigerian universities should include in their curricular, the teaching of entrepreneurial skills.
President of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) and Founder of Sword of The Spirit Ministry, Bishop Francis Wale Oke while speaking attributed the migration of Nigerian youths to foreign countries to bad leadership and governance.
Bishop Wale Oke stressed that though most of those who travel abroad go through harrowing experiences, they were often pushed by the sorry state of affairs in the country to seek greener pastures.
“Can we blame them? Most African countries like Nigeria, does not favour the youths whose future is at stake and riddled with uncertainties in the hands of irresponsible governments” he said
Bishop Wale Oke cited the Federal Government and ASUU faceoff which kept students at home for eight months before resuming last week, urging the youths to employ entrepreneurial skills in bailing themselves and the continent out of all forms of slavery.
In his contributions a former Vice Chancellor of Ajayi Crowther University (ACU) Oyo and Chairman of the occasion, Professor Dapo Asaju, described Nigeria as a confused nation.
“We are in a country that is confused at the moment.; a country whose children are anxious to get out by whatever means and to do whatever is available; a country where the children are hopeless,a country where the children never saw a better Nigeria” he decried
Professor Asaju stressed that the situation in Nigeria had become pitiable with the currency, security and education in comatose, proffering as a way out that entrepreneurship be given topmost priority.
“This even becomes imperative if we consider the fact that most industries in Nigeria are closing down and moving to neighboring countries.We are not sure of where we are going; Nigeria is in search of resurrection.No one can fix Nigeria for us but by ourselves.You don’t solve a problem by running away from it.Those who will fix Nigeria will be from here and not diaspora” Asaju insisted
Executive Director of DOHAL, Pastor Mrs Funmilayo Ajibulu, in her speech said the foundation was established in 2003 in memory of Dorcas who died as a result of fake drug, noting that the organization was out to equally provide succour to the needy in the society, adding that from time to time,it has been embarking on various programs beneficial to the people.
“This year alone, we packaged over 4,000 bags of rice which we distributed to the people as supported by our father in the Lord, Bishop Francis Wale Oke. Again,we have concluded arrangements to train over 3,000 drug vendors in Lagos and Abuja” she hinted
