The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has urged Nigerian youths to take advantage of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies to create businesses, generate employment and build sustainable careers.
The call was made by the NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, during the 2026 Port Harcourt Tech Expo in Rivers State, where technology leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers and young innovators gathered to discuss the future of Nigeria’s digital economy.
Ogbuku described technology as one of the most important opportunities available to young Nigerians at a time when traditional employment is becoming increasingly difficult to secure. He encouraged youths to move beyond looking for jobs and begin thinking about how their digital skills could help them create products and services.
According to a report by BusinessDay, the NDDC boss said technology had become a major wealth creation sector and called for stronger public and private sector collaboration to support talented developers and entrepreneurs.
Also Read: Nigerian Youths Encouraged to Use Technology to Build Sustainable Creative Careers
NDDC Wants Youths to Turn Technology Into Opportunity
Ogbuku’s message goes beyond simply learning how to use computers or social media. His argument is that Nigerian youths should become creators of technology rather than remaining consumers.
At the Port Harcourt Tech Expo, he challenged young people to develop applications and other digital solutions that address real problems in their communities. He described such innovations as potential sources of income and encouraged the government to support talented young developers.
The NDDC boss also acknowledged the disruptive nature of artificial intelligence. While AI could affect some existing jobs, he said people who understand and adapt to the technology would be better positioned to benefit from the new opportunities it creates.
The Nation’s report on the 2026 Port Harcourt Tech Expo reported that Ogbuku urged young Nigerians to acquire digital skills and remain competitive as the global economy becomes increasingly driven by knowledge, data and technology.
For Nigerian youths, this could mean using AI to improve existing businesses, automate repetitive tasks, develop digital products, provide services to international clients or identify entirely new business opportunities.
AI and the Race for Nigeria’s Digital Economy
The NDDC’s position reflects a wider conversation about the changing nature of employment in Nigeria and across Africa.
Artificial intelligence is already being applied in areas such as education, healthcare, agriculture, financial technology, customer service, software development and the creative industries. This means that the ability to work with AI is gradually becoming an important professional advantage.
At the Port Harcourt event, stakeholders also stressed that Nigeria must move from being primarily a consumer of digital products to becoming a producer of solutions that can compete beyond the country’s borders.
Arise News reported that Ogbuku described intellectual property as an emerging platform for wealth creation and warned that those who fail to prepare for AI-driven changes could find themselves at a disadvantage.
That message is particularly relevant for graduates and young professionals who are facing a competitive employment market. Instead of waiting indefinitely for conventional employment, digital skills can provide another route into the economy.
However, learning AI alone is unlikely to be enough. Young Nigerians also need business knowledge, creativity, problem-solving ability, communication skills and an understanding of the needs of the market.
The real opportunity lies in combining these skills to solve problems people are willing to pay for.
Also Read: Nigeria Strengthens Technical Education Through Fresh Germany Partnership to Boost Skills and Jobs
Back Story: NDDC’s Growing Focus on Youth Technology
The NDDC’s latest technology push builds on previous programmes aimed at improving employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for young people across the Niger Delta.
In 2024, the Commission launched its Youth Internship Scheme with a target of 10,000 young people. The programme was designed to provide practical experience and support both employment and self-employment. The NDDC said beneficiaries would receive training in areas including technology, agriculture, music and the arts.
The Commission has also promoted its Holistic Opportunity Projects of Engagement, known as Project HOPE, which focuses on skills development and employment opportunities for young people.
In 2025, NDDC officials similarly encouraged young people to take advantage of artificial intelligence and modern technology. The Commission said it was exploring plans for an AI laboratory aimed at supporting youth development in the Niger Delta.
The 2026 Port Harcourt Tech Expo therefore represents another step in the Commission’s broader push to connect young people with technology, entrepreneurship and emerging economic opportunities.
For many Nigerian youths, the bigger question now is not whether AI is coming. It is how quickly they can learn to use it productively.
If the skills, funding and support systems are properly aligned, AI could become more than a tool for productivity. It could become a pathway through which young Nigerians build companies, sell services internationally and create jobs for others.
