There are bountiful opportunities in the tech space, and they remain the easiest ways to create jobs and reduce unemployment in society, experts have said, advising Nigerian youth to seize the available opportunities.

Information Technology (IT) experts, industry leaders, and other stakeholders gave this advice at The Roundtable Lekki 2026, organised by Church of God Mission International (CGMi), Garden City, Lekki, Lagos.

At the roundtable, themed “Winning Through Innovation: The Tech Advantage.” the experts stressed the importance of technology in everyday life, organisational growth, and global business competitiveness.

Speaking during the event, the founder of Interswitch, Mitchell Elegbe, explained that building tech-driven solutions in a growing business environment like Nigeria, and Africa by extension, would help address rising unemployment and improve global competitiveness.

Elegbe emphasised that for any business to survive, there is a need for proper strategy, innovation, solutions, and service delivery.

On the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), he said: “Like every new technology, it has its good and bad sides. AI is known to boost productivity, but it could potentially change the way we work, meaning some people could lose their jobs.”

Also speaking, founding Partner at Future Africa, Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, said: “If you adopt technology, it tends to make you more productive. And when you’re more productive, you’re able to do things faster and better than people who don’t use technology.

“I’m sure you wouldn’t be asking whether a computer is a threat to people who were typists. People simply have to learn how to use computers so they could become as efficient as those already using them.

“So, AI is not coming for your job, but if you don’t learn it, then the people who learn how to use AI will come for your job.”

Explaining the vision behind The Roundtable Lekki, the Convener, Chris Ubamadu, said: “What inspired The Roundtable Lekki was our desire to solve societal problems. We want to help people increase their earning capacity, become economically empowered, and reduce poverty in the land.

“It has been difficult over the past several years, so this initiative was conceived to address unemployment, underemployment, and ultimately help people earn a living and advance their careers.”

The Host and Zonal Coordinator, Church of God Mission, Victoria Island Zone, a banker, and entrepreneur, Osas Obaisiagbon, said: “This year, we focused on tech because we believe it provides the necessary leverage for the teeming population of Nigerians, especially young people, to become technically self-employed and independent, rather than waiting for government jobs.

“If you look through the history of technology, you will see that the Internet created more millionaires than the industrial revolution. In this era of AI, we also believe AI will produce even more millionaires than the Internet age did. Our aim is to open people’s eyes to the opportunities the tech world present.”

On his part, Chairman of the Organising Committee, Omoregie Samuel, said: “This year, we decided to focus on a subject that has become central to conversations around the world. We are in an era of rapid technological evolution where technology has become highly accessible.

“Regardless of economic status or location, people now have greater access to technology than ever before.”