Mentor and Professional Development Advocate, Engr. Mrs. Olufunmilade Akingbagbohun, has urged young Nigerians to deliberately equip themselves with relevant skills, character and a global mindset to take advantage of emerging opportunities beyond Nigeria.
Akingbagbohun gave the advice during a Youth Development and Empowerment Seminar,organised by the Anglican Youth Fellowship, Aiyepe, where she spoke on the need for young people to position themselves for global relevance in an increasingly interconnected world.
She said advances in technology, artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, innovation and digital transformation were rapidly changing the world of work, making continuous learning and adaptability essential for young people.
According to her, geographical location should no longer be seen as a barrier to opportunity, as young Nigerians can increasingly work, study, collaborate, build businesses and create value for people across different parts of the world.
She explained that global relevance requires more than academic qualifications, urging young people to develop a combination of digital and technology skills, communication, critical thinking, problem-solving, leadership, teamwork, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, creativity and emotional intelligence.
“Your certificate may open the door, but your skills determine how far you go,” she said.
Akingbagbohun also encouraged young people to develop a global mindset by becoming curious, adaptable, open-minded and culturally aware, while learning to appreciate diverse perspectives and identify opportunities beyond their immediate environments.
She identified technology as a major gateway to global opportunities, noting that digital platforms now enable young people to access international education, remote employment, freelancing, digital entrepreneurship, coding, artificial intelligence, digital marketing and creative industries.
She challenged youths to move beyond consuming technology to learning how to create with it.
The engineer further stressed the importance of translating education into practical value, encouraging young people to build evidence of their abilities through projects, internships, volunteering, professional certifications, portfolios, leadership experiences and community initiatives.
She advised participants to adopt a continuous development process of learning, practising, building, showcasing their abilities, connecting with others and growing professionally.
On entrepreneurship, Akingbagbohun urged young people not to focus solely on seeking employment but also develop the capacity to create opportunities by identifying problems and developing solutions that can serve local and international markets.
She encouraged youths to ask themselves what problems they could solve, who needed their solutions and how technology could improve and scale their ideas.
“Don’t wait for opportunities. Develop the capacity to create them,” she said.
Akingbagbohun also emphasised the importance of faith, character and purpose in the pursuit of professional and personal success.
She said integrity, discipline, service, excellence, humility and purpose should guide young people as they pursue global opportunities, stressing that professional success without character is incomplete.
According to her, character builds trust, integrity strengthens reputation, discipline produces results, while service creates lasting impact.
She urged young Nigerians to develop a clear action plan by discovering their strengths and purpose, developing relevant skills, differentiating themselves, building local and global connections, creating solutions and contributing to their communities and the nation.
Akingbagbohun reminded the participants that age should not be a limitation to impact, encouraging them to prepare themselves for a world that increasingly demands skilled, innovative, courageous, ethical and adaptable people.
She charged young Nigerians to “think global, act with purpose and lead with excellence” as they position themselves for opportunities in the changing global economy.