Principal Consultant, Lonadek Inc, Ibilola Amao has reiterated committed to build an ecosystem of next generation leaders who are grounded in Science technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) to help Nigeria achieve her developmental goals.
Amao said part of its goal for Nigerian youths help groom Stempreneurs, whereby these youth have foresight, insight and cross sight which would enable them see opportunities where many others see problems, issues and challenges and therefore are not left behind in the race of digital disruptions.
Amao made this known at the 2019 Youth Empowerment and Restoration Initiative programme (Vision 2020) held at the University of Lagos Main Auditorium.
According to her, “Our focus is Stempreneurs. We are telling them once they have potential talent and a passion in a particular area they can make it an enterprise and start a business, they don’t need to graduate, they can start a business while still in school”.
She said “We know that conventional jobs are disappearing and see STEM and Entrepreneurship as a gateway to wealth creation. To fulfil the local content aspirations of resource rich emerging economies, youths must be engaged to have a conversion mentality. As we count down to the end of this 15-year programme our goal is to influence youth to become entrepreneurs and Stempreneurs through thinking out of the box in teams. Working to convert ideas in to bankable enterprises”
The “Vision 2020: Youth Empowerment and Restoration Initiative” programme is borne out of a conviction of the management and staff of Lonadek Inc. to fill a gap in career counselling, industry awareness and youth empowerment.
She however noted that the group would be launching a ‘STEMpreneur after School Initiative’ that would encourage members of the JETS Club who are more interested in Technology and Innovation spread their wings, adding that
“Our hope is to get young problem solvers working in teams to create jobs and opportunities for others”, Amao noted.
“I am encouraged when citizens in the western world look to Africa for organic products, herbal remedies, essential botanical oils, natural cure for terminal disease. Nigeria requires a 360 on Process Technology, most especially in view of the issues of global warming and pollution. With mental health, safety and security becoming an issue, we need to apply STEM more creatively to address issues from as broad as joblessness, poor medicals, kidnapping to power supply” said Amao.
According to Amao, from 2006 up to date over 83,000 youths has been empowered and several participants of the youth initiative programme have recorded excellence beyond expectations, through career counselling, industry awareness and youth empowerment giving young minds direction and encouragement so that they can channel their energy into value-adding and constructive activities.
“We are now resolving societal problems through STEM projects. Our Cedar STEM and Entrepreneurship Hub, strategically located in Yaba, the Silicon Valley of Nigeria is now engaged in International Computer Driving License (ICDL) Certification to empower Nigerians for global careers.
“For the future benefit of Nigerians being active in STEM and digital disruption, we enjoin others to join hands with us as we develop the critical mass of human resources that would deliver solutions in the area of predictive engineering, predictive operations and predictive maintenance of digital assets in Energy, Power, Infrastructure, Manufacturing, Mining , Oil and Gas”, Amao said.
KELECHI EWUZIE
