Innovation Minister Kingsley Udeh has challenged Nigerian youths to develop practical solutions, build scalable enterprises and use technology to create jobs and drive national development.
The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Udeh, has urged Nigerian youths to embrace innovation, develop practical solutions to societal challenges and build enterprises capable of creating jobs and driving economic growth.
Udeh made the call at the 2026 Impact Youth Development Initiative (IYD) Business Innovation Summit held at the International Conference Centre in Enugu.
The summit was organised under the theme, “Innovate, Build and Scale Up.”
Represented by Dr. Nneka Nwagugu, Head of the Agro and Agro Allied Division at the Projects Development Initiative (PRODA), Enugu, the minister said Nigeria’s youthful population could become a major economic asset if supported with the right skills, resources, opportunities and enabling environment.
He identified artificial intelligence, digital technology, robotics, biotechnology, renewable energy, digital finance and precision agriculture as emerging areas offering opportunities for young Nigerians.
Udeh challenged youths to move beyond consuming technologies developed elsewhere and become creators, developers, owners and exporters of technology.
He said youth development and innovation must advance together if Nigeria was to maximise its human capital and translate youthful potential into economic value.
“Every young person represents potential, but potential is only the beginning,” he said.
According to him, young Nigerians should follow a pathway from potential to skills, innovation, enterprise, employment and wealth creation.
The minister stressed that innovation was not limited to computers and artificial intelligence, but involved applying ideas, knowledge and technology to solve practical problems in areas such as healthcare, education, housing, waste management, manufacturing and financial inclusion.
He advised young entrepreneurs to focus on the problems they could solve rather than simply asking what businesses they could start.
Udeh also encouraged entrepreneurs to begin on a small scale, develop prototypes, test their ideas, learn from failures and continuously improve their products and services.
The Founder of IYD, Mr. Ejike Nnaji, said the initiative was established to empower youths, women, students and entrepreneurs through a combination of business training and practical opportunities.
Nnaji said the summit was designed to expose participants to emerging business trends and equip them with skills needed to operate and grow in an increasingly digital economy.
According to him, the programme was organised in collaboration with Mastercard, Jobberman, Electric Motor Limited and Master Energy Group.
He said participants would also be connected to opportunities involving loans, grants, training and employment, making the programme different from conventional business conferences that focus primarily on theoretical sessions.
The guest speaker and Founder of Master Energy Group, Mr. Uche Ogah, urged young Nigerians to view economic and technological changes as opportunities to establish new businesses and institutions.
Ogah, a former Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, encouraged youths to become “seed bearers” of new enterprises instead of relying solely on existing organisations for employment.
He said changing economic and technological realities required young Nigerians to develop entrepreneurial and technological skills capable of helping them create value in emerging industries.
Representing Jobberman, Dr. Victoria Chukwu said the organisation remained committed to preparing young Nigerians for employment and connecting job seekers with employers.
Chukwu said Jobberman had trained more than 700 youths, while at least 100 participants, particularly women, were registered for training linked to the summit.
She said the training covered employability skills, including interpersonal competencies and other capabilities required to work effectively with others and meet workplace expectations.
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