The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Kingsley Udeh, has urged Nigerian youths to embrace innovation and build practical solutions for national development.

Mr Udeh gave the charge on Saturday at the 2026 Impact Youth Development Initiative (IYD) Business Innovation Summit, with the theme, “Innovate, Build and Scale Up”.

The event was held at the International Conference Centre in Enugu.

The minister also advised youths to scale their enterprises to create jobs and drive economic growth.

He was represented by Nneka Nwagugu, the head of department, Agro and Agro Allied Division, Projects Development Initiative (PRODA), Enugu.

Mr Udeh said Nigeria’s youthful population could become a major economic advantage if supported with the right skills, opportunities, resources and enabling environment.

He said technological transformation in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), digital technology, robotics and biotechnology was creating new opportunities for young Nigerians.

He listed other emerging areas, including renewable energy, digital finance and precision agriculture.

The minister challenged youths to move beyond consuming technologies developed elsewhere and become creators, developers, owners and exporters of technology.

According to him, youth development and innovation must go together for Nigeria to harness its human capital effectively.

“Every young person represents potential, but potential is only the beginning.

‘’The pathway should be that potential becomes capability; capability becomes innovation that translates to enterprise.

“Enterprise must then be channelled to creating employment and wealth. This pathway, if diligently pursued, will ultimately produce impact,” he said.

The minister identified the progression from potential to skills, ideas, solutions, businesses, jobs and impact as the pathway Nigerian youths should pursue.

He said innovation was not limited to computers and AI, but included using ideas, knowledge and technology to solve real-life problems in healthcare, education and housing.

He listed other areas where youths could innovate, including waste management, manufacturing and financial inclusion.

Mr Udeh advised young entrepreneurs to change their approach to entrepreneurship by asking, “What problem can I solve?” rather than merely asking what business they could start.

He encouraged youths to start small, develop prototypes, test them, learn from failures and continually improve their products and services.

Also, IYD founder Ejike Nnaji said the programme was designed to empower women, youths, students and entrepreneurs with both theoretical knowledge and practical opportunities.

“The summit is aimed at exposing participants to new trends in business and equipping them with skills to survive and grow in an increasingly digital economy,” he said.

He said the programme was organised in collaboration with Mastercard, Jobberman, Electric Motor Limited and Master Energy Group.

According to him, the initiative differs from other business summits because it combines training with practical empowerment.

He said some participants would receive financial and other forms of empowerment, while others would be connected to opportunities for loans, grants, training and employment.

The guest speaker and founder of Master Energy Group, Uche Ogah, urged youths to see the economic and technological changes affecting businesses as opportunities to create new enterprises.

Mr Ogah is also a former Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development.

He urged youths to become “seed bearers” of new businesses and institutions, rather than waiting for existing systems to provide them with employment.

He said the traditional expectation of going to school, securing a job, buying a car, building a house, and retiring was changing because of economic and technological realities.

“Young Nigerians should develop entrepreneurial and technological skills capable of helping them create value in the emerging economy,” Ogah said.

In her remarks, Jobberman representative Victoria Chukwu said the organisation is committed to preparing young Nigerians for employment and connecting job seekers with suitable employers.

Ms Chukwu said Jobberman had trained more than 700 youths, while no fewer than 100 participants, particularly females, were registered for the training connected with the summit.

“The training focuses on basic employability skills, including interpersonal skills and other competencies required for young people to work effectively with others and meet employers’ expectations,” she said.

 (NAN)