The West/South-South Director for Young Professionals for Tinubu, Victor Benjamin, believes young Nigerians would drive the projected $15bn addition to the economy from artificial intelligence.
According to a statement made available to The PUNCH on Sunday, Benjamin said the key to ensuring this value to the economy becomes a reality is to equip youths with the right skills.
Back in October, a study by Public First, a research agency specialising in economic, social, and opinion research, indicated that artificial intelligence could add about $15bn to the Nigerian economy by 2030.
In the fresh statement, Benjamin said, “One of the biggest misconceptions about AI is that it will eliminate jobs. But the reality is AI will create more jobs than it replaces—the key is ensuring that people are equipped with the right skills. We are already seeing AI create new industries in financial services, digital health, precision agriculture, and even the creative economy. In banking, AI is automating fraud detection and improving financial inclusion. In agriculture, AI is predicting weather patterns, optimising irrigation, and increasing crop yields. In film, music, and content creation, AI-powered tools are making Nigerian creatives more competitive on a global scale. These are not hypothetical examples. These are real applications happening today, and they are expanding, not shrinking, job opportunities. The key is to train young Nigerians to be at the centre of these industries, and that is exactly what programmes like 3MTT and the AI and Blockchain Training Initiative are designed to do.
He continued, “These are not hypothetical examples. These are real applications happening today, and they are expanding, not shrinking, job opportunities. The key is to train young Nigerians to be at the centre of these industries, and that is exactly what programmes like 3MTT and the AI and Blockchain Training Initiative are designed to do.”
He added that in light of the need for training and equipping, his organisation has come up with the 3 Million Technical Talent programme, which is aimed at training millions of young Nigerians in AI, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and software development.
He said, “Alongside this, the National AI Strategy Framework provides a structured approach to AI development, setting the foundation for AI policy, ethics, research, and industry collaboration. These efforts are complemented by government-backed funding for AI startups, ensuring that young Nigerians have access to capital to develop homegrown AI solutions. If we execute these initiatives correctly, Nigeria will be well-positioned to emerge as Africa’s leading hub for AI development, innovation, and employment.”
Benjamin charged young Nigerians to take advantage of the training programmes to prepare themselves for the future.
“AI is expected to add $15bn to Nigeria’s economy by 2030—but the real question is: Who will be the ones to drive that growth? That responsibility falls on young Nigerians who are willing to learn, innovate, and take ownership of Nigeria’s digital future. The government has created the roadmap, the programmes are in place, and the opportunities are opening up. Now, young Nigerians must step up, engage, and seize these opportunities—whether through training programmes, startup funding, or AI innovation hubs. The world is watching Nigeria, and if we move strategically, we won’t just participate in the AI revolution—we will lead it. The future is ours to shape,” he reckoned.
