The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has stated that digital literacy, innovation training and leadership development are crucial for the country to build global competitive workforce.
Gabriel Idahosa, president of LCCI, stated this during the LCCI 2025 Secondary Schools Essay Competition and prize giving ceremony, titled, ‘The Role of Robotics and AI: Positive and Negative Effects Shaping the Future of the Job Sector in Nigeria.’
Idahosa stated that equipping young Nigerians with digital skills like understanding future-driven technologies is critical to building a globally competitive workforce.
“As a chamber, we are deepening our footprint in education and youth empowerment, and beyond this competition, we are strengthening partnerships that will expose students to entrepreneurship, innovation, leadership, digital literacy, and the industries of the future.
“Our goal is to raise a generation that is not only globally aware but also globally competitive, equipped with the skills and mindset necessary to create a positive impact in a rapidly evolving world,” he said.
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Olatunbosun Alake, Lagos state commissioner for innovation and technology, in his remarks said that robots and AI are no longer futuristic, they are already here, transforming industries and creating new economic realities.
Alake also said that opportunities in AI and robotics are enormous, but without reskilling and tech education, Nigeria risks widening the digital divide.
“The future will belong to those who can collaborate with technology, not those who fear it,” he said, adding that Lagos state has made significant investments in AI, robotics, green energy and digital innovation to prepare our youth for the emerging future.
The competition brought together the top 10 students with the best essay entries from different schools to debate, speak on what they’ve submitted for the competition, and were assessed by a panel of academics and industry experts.
Layo Bakare-Okeowo, vice president of LCCI, praised the finalists for their intelligence, creativity, and commitment, while emphasising the platform’s role in nurturing young minds and empowering secondary school students to engage with emerging global issues.
She thanked teachers, parents, partners, sponsors, and examiners whose support strengthened the initiative and its impact.
