During the week, young Nigerians received, in audience, foremost tech billionaire and philanthropist, Bill Gates when he spoke at the Pan-African Youth Forum 2023 in Lagos State with the theme “Unleashing the Power of Youth in Science & Innovation.”
Moderator of the event who doubles as the co-founder and Chief Executive of Co-Creation Hub (CcHUB), Dr Bosun Tijani, had earlier disclosed that the purpose of the event was to teach and inspire young people on the process of innovation and how to solve significant problems using Science and Technology.
In his presentation, Gates, who is the founder of Microsoft, spoke on how his fascination with coding, how he ventured into the tech industry as a young person and his belief in the power of technology to enhance lives and bring about a digital revolution.
He emphasised that Nigerian youths have a unique opportunity to contribute to the country’s development by harnessing new technologies to enhance sectors such as health, education, and finance while urging tech entrepreneurs at the event to embrace their potential and work towards a better future for the country.
The renowned philanthropist highlighted the challenges Nigeria faces in allocating finances towards future investments, ensuring long-term economic and security stability, and driving policies that effectively utilise resources for the benefit of the country.
Gates acknowledged the potential of talented young Nigerians while stressing the importance of investing in their skills, passion, and determination, encouraging the youth to tackle pressing issues such as infectious diseases, maternal health, food nutrition, women’s empowerment, and technology-driven positive change.