By Adeola Badru
The chieftain of the Ijaw National Congress, Dadiowei Akpeti has urged the Federal Government to integrate Artificial intelligence (AI) into technical education, warning that training young people in conventional vocational skills alone may not adequately prepare them for the changing demands of the global labour market.
Akpeti said technical and vocational education must evolve alongside technological advancements to equip young people with the competencies required to secure employment, establish businesses and compete internationally.
He said during an interview that the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence had made it necessary for training institutions to reconsider their curricula and methods of instruction.
“We had to return to the drawing board to incorporate AI into our training model. The world is changing rapidly, and we recognise that artificial intelligence will play an increasingly important role in the future of work.“
“We, therefore, decided that teaching technical skills alone would not be sufficient. Our students must also be equipped with the knowledge and tools needed to compete effectively with their counterparts around the world,“ he said.
He argued that technical competence and access to appropriate training equipment were essential to preparing young people for opportunities in industries requiring specialised skills.
The businessman also identified collaboration between training institutions and companies in the oil and gas sector as one way of aligning vocational education with workplace requirements.
He noted that businesses operating in the Niger Delta were being approached to support the provision of modern training equipment, adding that the objective was to develop skills that would meet industry needs.
“Our objective is to produce technically competent, innovative and employable young people who can meet industry demands, create businesses and contribute meaningfully to the development of the Niger Delta and Nigeria as a whole,” he said.
He further posited that investment in technical education should be accompanied by efforts to develop local expertise and expand opportunities for young people to participate in productive economic activities.
Beyond education, the businessman called for stronger financial independence among community-based organisations, saying greater mobilisation of resources from within their constituencies could reduce dependence on government funding.
His comments came amid renewed reconciliation efforts among stakeholders in the Ijaw National Congress (INC) following the emergence of High Chief MacDonald Igbadiwe as president of the organisation.
He said the reconciliation process offered an opportunity for the organisation to move beyond internal divisions and concentrate on issues affecting Ijaw communities in Nigeria and the diaspora.
He stressed that reconciliation would have limited value if it did not result in practical measures to improve people’s lives.
“What matters now is that we sustain this momentum. Reconciliation must go beyond ceremonies and public declarations; it must translate into cooperation, mutual respect and practical programmes that improve the lives of our people,” he said.
He urged the INC leadership to maintain an inclusive approach, strengthen the organisation’s financial base and prioritise initiatives with tangible benefits for its members.
On the reported acquittal of former Minister of Petroleum Resources Diezani Alison-Madueke, he said legal proceedings should be determined by the courts on the basis of evidence and applicable law.
“I believe that every individual deserves a fair hearing and due process under the law,” he said, cautioning against judging an entire ethnic group on the basis of allegations involving an individual.
The businessman also called for greater recognition of the contributions of Niger Delta indigenes to business, professional services and the oil and gas industry, arguing that the region’s people should not be viewed solely through the history of agitation and conflict.
He said sustained investment in education, skills development and enterprise was necessary to expand those contributions and improve opportunities for younger generations.
Akpeti, however, maintained that cooperation among community leaders, businesses and diaspora networks could support development efforts, but emphasised the need for practical action rather than public declarations.
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