Mr Obaseun Awoyinfa, a cybersecurity expert and Technical Director at Beyond Binary Consulting, Canada, has urged Nigerian youth to use the power of engineering and innovation to proffer solutions to the developmental challenges bedevilling the country.
Awoyinfa, an alumnus of Ogun State Institute of Technology, Igbesa, stated this while delivering a keynote address during a high-profile debate and quiz competition themed ‘Think, Thinker, Triumph: Engineering Innovation as a Catalyst for National Development’ organised by the School of Engineering of the polytechnic. He explained that no nation develops sustainably without innovation and that countries that have transformed themselves economically invested heavily in science, technology, engineering, research and infrastructure.
Awoyinfa said, “Today, nations like China, South Korea, and Singapore are global leaders because they built systems that encouraged innovation and industrialisation.”
He revealed that though Nigeria is filled with talent, creativity, and intelligence, it also faces enormous challenges in the areas of unstable power supply, infrastructure gaps, unemployment, limited industrialisation, among others.
Awoyinfa disclosed, “The probing question is: Who will solve these problems? National development cannot be outsourced forever. At some point, nations rise because their own people rise.
“And so those who will solve our myriads of challenges are not anywhere else; they are the bunch of dedicated, courageous, forward-looking and innovative youth looking at me eyeball to eyeball in this hall. These are the people to shape that future.”
The cybersecurity expert also counselled the youth to learn how to start small and then gradually consolidate and carve a niche for themselves. He said, “One thing I want every student here to understand is that innovation does not always begin in billion-dollar laboratories. Sometimes it begins with a student project. Sometimes it begins with a simple idea. Sometimes it begins with someone refusing to accept that ‘this is how things have always been done.’
“Many of the technologies we use today started from small experiments and bold thinking. So never underestimate your ideas. Your final-year project could become a startup. Your research could become a solution used across industries. Your engineering knowledge could help solve real national problems.”
Awoyinfa said that since we are living in a time where technology is evolving extremely fast, the youth should embrace artificial intelligence, automation, robotics, renewable energy, and smart systems, as they are helping to transform industries globally.
He said, “It is not because Africa lacks intelligence, but what we often lack is the confidence to believe we can build globally competitive systems ourselves. But we can, and your generation has an opportunity to change that narrative.”
Also speaking at the event, the Rector, Dr Abiodun Oluseye, represented by his deputy, Dr Oluyemi Odutola, lauded the leadership of the School of Engineering for the initiative and urged other faculties to follow suit.
Dr Oluseye said that while the humanities are often associated with literary activities such as the competition organised by the school, these intellectual exercises are vital across all disciplines. He explained that as custodians of technical education, it is the duty of the school to groom self-reliant students who can make informed, rapid, and accurate decisions.
The Rector further emphasised that leadership and seasoned public speaking are inextricably linked, noting that such competitions are essential for “moulding destinies and raising independent citizens”.
The Acting Dean, Engr Osamonyi Ighodalo, stated that the programme was a “carefully designed platform” to nurture creativity and professionalism. He reminded the students that engineering transcends machines and calculations, requiring the ability to articulate and defend innovative ideas with clarity.
The winner of the debate, Mr Adeagbo Emmanuel, an HND I student of electrical electronic engineering, was awarded a scholarship by the Alumni Association of the Institute, led by Comrade Sholotan Kazeem. The second- and third-placed contestants were also recognised for their efforts, receiving cash prizes of N30,000 and N20,000 respectively to support their academic pursuits.
