Nigeria must prioritise digital skills, innovation to secure future — Anyanwu

The Chief Executive Officer of Owllup, Stanley Anyanwu, has called on Nigerian leaders and investors to make digital skills and innovation a national priority, warning that the country’s future cannot be secured by oil revenue alone.

Speaking at the official launch of the Owllup Exchange platform, Anyanwu urged both the public and private sectors to channel resources into empowering young people with technology-driven capabilities, rather than focusing on short-term consumption or physical assets.

“Imagine a Nigeria where the young ones are not just praying and hoping for a better life, but are equipped with the skills, the resources, and the platform to actually build it.

“Our future is not waiting for us anywhere. It’s in this room, in every voice, every business idea, in every post, in every video we share.”

According to him, Owllup, which is designed as a collaborative platform for creators, professionals, leaders and learners, aims to bridge the gap between talent and opportunity by offering free access to training, mentorship and funding opportunities.

Anyanwu painted a vivid picture of the vision behind the platform: “Just picture a Nigeria where talents are not wasted due to poverty, or where ambitions are not killed due to lack of connection, or where a young person, a 19-year-old, can gain a skill for free, develop it, secure funding, and employ at least five people before turning 21.”

In an interview after the launch, he explained that the company is working with schools, professionals and partner organisations to produce educational content and give young Nigerians access to practical projects that reinforce their learning.

“When they are educated, we give them that access to do live projects and stay on them until they can secure employment. And when they do, we still provide lifetime mentorship,” he said.

He emphasised that the initiative is a large-scale project that requires significant investment.

“We are looking into getting investors because it’s not a one-man project. We are building a digital dream where one platform gives our youth one ticket to achieving their dreams.” He said

While noting that the long-term goal is to decentralise wealth away from non-productive spending and into training millions of Nigerian youths in high-demand skills, he further challenged Nigeria’s wealthy class to rethink how they use their resources.

“We make money to oppress, not to develop. Instead of throwing money in the club, bring it to the youth that have this dream. Let’s build the country.

“Technology is not a one-man thing. It’s something that everybody needs to come together and build,” he said.

He added that Owllup is registered in both Nigeria and the UK but stressed his preference for domestic investors so the benefits remain within the country.

“I wish that these investors come from our country, so the project will remain for the country and serve the purpose that it’s supposed to serve.

“Let the connection flow. And let’s keep building that Nigeria where every youth will have a voice, a skill, a purpose, and a future.”

In an interview on the sidelines of the event, the Keynote Speaker, Oluwadamilola Okenla, stressed that Nigeria cannot achieve meaningful economic advancement without embracing technology and innovation.

Okenla said there is a direct synergy between technological adoption and economic growth, adding that government and citizens alike must understand and leverage this relationship.

“There is no advancement without technology and there is no advancement without innovation. There is no economic advancement without technology and innovation. It is very important that we know this is a synergy,” she said.

According to Okenla, technology should be viewed as a complement to Nigeria’s traditions rather than a replacement. She likened modern fintech platforms such as PiggyVest to the traditional “Agile” savings system practiced by market women.

“Basically, we are preaching here the synergy, the integration of technology and innovations. The government can key into that and develop the Nigerian economy,” she said.

She urged the government to invest in digital literacy initiatives, including training on widely accessible tools such as Canva, Google Workspace, Excel, and social media marketing platforms. Such initiatives, she said, could be delivered in partnership with education-focused organisations already championing innovation.

Okenla also pointed to the urgent need for infrastructure upgrades to support Nigeria’s digital economy.

“No country, you cannot build a good country, a great country in darkness. Our electricity system needs to be sharpened. There needs to be more power. The road infrastructure needs to be good for logistics business. That’s how the government can come in partnership,” she said.

She maintained that individuals must also change their mindset towards technology, rejecting the misconception that it undermines cultural values.