By Felix Khanoba
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has called Nigerian youths to develop special interest in digital technology.
The Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of FCCPC, Barr. Babatunde Irukera, made the call at the 7th edition of National Young Consumer Contest Awards on Wednesday in Abuja.
The FCCPC boss said Nigeria as well as the whole Africa continent stand a good chance to benefit massively from the digital market by leveraging on its youthful population,
“The future in the digital market belongs to the young people of the continent of Africa,” Irukera said, during the programme which had its theme as ‘Fair Digital Finance’.
While saying Africa is the fastest growing continent in the world with Nigeria being projected to emerge third largest country in the globe in few years time, the FCCPC boss said there is need to develop interest in the digital world.
“I was talking to the council of ministers from 47 African countries about the need and urgency to adopt a programme on digital training….
” We (Nigeria) cannot catch up with the rest of the world that are building new schools. The amount of money and time it will take to put each block on the other shows it is not the way of the future.
” We will not catch up with the rest of the world by sending more teachers to teacher training colleges or universities…., we will still be left behind,” Irukera said, adding that digital market is the future and what will dominate Africa.
Speaking further, the EVC challenged participating students, drawn from secondary schools and universities across the country, to put what they learned from the competition into use.
“Why is the discussion about digital finance important to young people? The reason why we chose that, is to direct your attention to your future..
” Here we are in the world where Artificial Intelligence is beginning to take the place of human being, so, it is important that Nigeria as we know it, build a country of talents,” he said.
Irukera also used the event to pay tribute to late Mrs Caroline Achuze – a teacher from Anambra State, who fell sick and died after arriving Abuja during one of the previous editions of the national young consumer contest.
The FCCPC boss revealed the Commission’s plan to immortalise the late Mrs Achuze by naming the young consumer contest after her.
Meanwhile, students of Southern British High School, Calabar, Cross River State, have clinched the first position in this year’s edition of National Young Consumer Contest.
Igbira Muslim Community College, Okene, Kogi State came second place while the third position was won by Esteem Standard High School, Jos, Plateau State.
FCCPC’s Executive Commissioner in charge of Operations, Dr Adamu Abdullahi, who announced the results, said a student from Beneu State University, Makurdi, came top in the tertiary education category and was followed by students from University of Nigeria, Nsukka and Lagos State University.
Earlier, Abdullahi said the contest was put in place in order to stimulate digital market’s interest on the young Nigerians.
He said thousands of entries were received from secondary schools and universities from across the country during this year’s competition.
The AUTHORITY reports that the event which also witnessed oral presentations by some of the participating students, also saw to the presentation of special awards to winners of a quiz competition in honour of late Mrs Achuze.
