Thrive Agric has called on the Federal Government to implement policy reforms, enhance funding mechanisms, and expand basic technology skills education in schools.
The Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Uka Eje, made the appeal at the third edition of the Abuja Tech Converge in Abuja.
Eje said that widespread technology skills education would accelerate Nigeria’s digital transformation and create opportunities for young people.
He noted that while Nigeria has abundant tech talent, effective knowledge transfer requires deliberate policies exposing youths to practical learning and employable skills.
“The private sector is ready to train people, but the government should link them to the right institutions, especially universities of education and technical colleges,” he said.
Eje emphasized that technology skills training must go beyond corporate environments and be embedded across schools nationwide.
“The government has done well with entrepreneurship education, but you can be enterprising without access to finance to fund your business,” he added.
According to him, technology education also advances learning in areas such as product management and software development within existing school curricula.
He urged the government to prioritize technology education at primary, secondary, and tertiary levels to bridge skills gaps and enhance Nigeria’s global competitiveness.
On funding, Eje said many start-ups lack training and structure to attract investors, despite the presence of venture capitalists.
“Many venture capitalists are ready to invest but struggle to find businesses that are investment-ready,” he noted.
Mr. Akintunde Akinwande, Head of Digital at OCP Africa, highlighted the role of technology in addressing infrastructure challenges, particularly in agriculture.
“Developing solutions is not the difficult part; getting people to use them is the real challenge,” Akinwande said, urging the government to establish nationwide co-creation hubs and co-develop policies with the private sector to strengthen innovation ecosystems.
The Abuja Tech Converge 3.0, themed ‘Beyond Buzzwords: Demystifying Emerging Tech for Real Impact’, was organised by Thrive Agric in partnership with OCP Africa.
