Young Nigerians must adapt to technology and embrace creativity if they hope to stay relevant in a fast-evolving job market.
Media entrepreneur, Mr. Chude Jideonwo gave the charge at the 2026 Changemakers Conference in Lagos, which brought together over 1,000 students, educators, innovators, and civic leaders.
Speaking on “Unlocking Africa’s Future Through Education and Creativity,” he said work and careers are shifting from predictable roles to ones that demand flexibility and problem-solving.
“The rate at which technology is changing is fast. Look at how Artificial Intelligence has evolved in the last six months alone,” Jideonwo told the audience.
“Mental flexibility and adaptability are key. If your job matters to you, you must be ready to adapt.
Don’t just consume technology, leverage it to build careers.”
Convener and higher education consultant, Mr. Louis Adekola said the conference was designed to examine how global education trends affect Africa’s future.
“Society’s present and future reflect its education system,” Adekola said in his welcome address.
“We focused on two areas reshaping everything, AI and technology, and their impact on education, medicine, and agriculture.
The goal is to expose young Nigerians to scholarships, creative industry opportunities, and help them find their space early.”
The event featured panel sessions on AI, technology, exploring scholarship opportunities and the future of Africa with IT entrepreneur Douglas Kendyson, international educationist Daniel Emanahor, and gender and disability inclusion expert Ejiro Sharon-Okotie.
Discussions centered on knowledge transfer, capacity building, international education opportunities, and sustainable development.
Secondary school students also exhibited robots and AI projects, as organisers awarded cash prizes to the top three innovators.
Participants, including secondary school students and aspiring young professionals, commended the conference and pledged to apply the knowledge gained.
Written by Olusegun Haastrup