Funmi Olaitan, Ibadan

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, on Saturday, in Ibadan, called on youths in the country to explore opportunities in modern day technology and innovation rather than focusing on politics.

He gave the admonition while delivering a paper entitled, "Developing the Nation Through Youth Empowerment", at the 9th public lecture to commemorate 68th anniversary of Sigma Club, University of Ibadan (UI), held at International Conference Centre (UI).

He said there is currently a big vacuum in both technology and innovation, which needed to be filled by the youths of the country, stating that there is no other way to develop our nation if the youths are not technological and innovative driven.

The VP who said the future of the country lies in the hands of the youth also asked them to be vigilant and hold their leaders accountable, noting that it is by doing so that Nigeria can be great.

Osinbajo however added that the Federal Government is currently developing a curriculum on science, technology, engineering and mathematics which will include 21st century way of thinking.

He said, "A lot is going on in creativity and technology, the future of job creation is in technology and innovation. We are moving to universities for different innovation and Federal Government will invest on it".

Chairman of the occasion, Mr. Wale Babalakin in his remarks, said the choice of the topic was remarkable and cardinal to the development of Nigeria, stating that the country must get youth development right and also ensure youths benefit from qualitative education.

He said, "Time has gone for us to continue with the blame game. Whatever that might have led us to the current challenges is unfortunate, but we must do the needful in salvaging youth unemployment".

While maintaining that the nation needed to find a way of funding education in a robust fashion that is sustainable, Babalakin lauded Sigma Club for consistently providing leadership to the youths of the country through its annual public lecture.

Sigma Chief, Valentine Igbonekwu, said the lecture was organised to offer a platform for Nigerian youths to improve their economic productivity and social economic inclusion through proper acquisition of practical skills set and worthy entrepreneurial capacity.

He explained that the club has been the oldest surviving students' organisation in Sub-sahara Africa with considerable focus on good character, discipline, integrity and national development.

Igbonekwu maintained that the club over the years has contributed immensely to educational development with timely interventions and prompt contribution through its educational foundation.

He said the public lecture which has played host to distinguished speakers has become a robust platform where burning national issues of collective interest are intellectually x-rayed and dissected with a view to proffering lasting solutions to them.

He then urged youths to rise through the event and strategically apply the lesson learnt in profitable enterprises that will help to stem the tide of youth unemployment in the country.