Meta Hosts First Youth Summit to Drive Innovation, Empowerment
Ferdinand Ekechukwu
American tech conglomerate, Meta, recently hosted its first Youth Summit in Lagos, bringing together over 200 young professionals, students, fresh graduates, creatives, tech enthusiasts and aspiring entrepreneurs in a fun and interactive atmosphere, making best memories and connecting with the young Nigerians.
With 70 per cent of Nigeria’s population under age 30, young and vibrant, Meta appreciates and understands that, hence the need for engaging every one of the attendees.
The summit, essentially, was birthed out of the need to take advantage of the energy of that vibrant, young population of Nigerians and opening up a world of possibilities.
Themed ‘Empowering Youth Through Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship’, the summit included a series of thought-provoking panel discussions, a mentoring session and an interactive workshop designed to equip young Nigerians with the skills, insights and networks needed to thrive in today’s tech-driven world.
Commenting about the event, Phil Oduor, Head of Policy Programmes, Sub-Saharan Africa said, “At Meta, we believe that today’s youth are tomorrow’s change-makers. Through initiatives like the Youth Summit, we aim to foster innovation, promote digital literacy and empower young Nigerians with the tools and opportunities to realise their potential and contribute to Nigeria’s growing digital economy.”
Delivering the keynote address, Femi Aluko, CEO/Co-Founder, Chowdeck, shared his journey of breaking barriers to achieve success in tech. He encouraged attendees to embrace the limitless opportunities within today’s technology ecosystem.”Keep working, keep moving and the winning will come” Aluko charged the audience.
A panel discussion, led by Chinny Francis, Public Policy Manager at Meta, titled ‘The Future of Work: Thriving in a Digitally Transformed World’ featured panelists Nifemi Akinwamide, Head of Operations, Alt School; Adaora Mbelu, Co-Founder of Lumination Global and Obaloluwa Adeagbo, Marketing Lead at Talstack.
They shared valuable insights about the future of work, emphasising the importance of storytelling to build a personal brand, practicing self-awareness, developing soft skills, lifelong learning and honing problem-solving skills to thrive in a digitally transformed world.
Technical Adviser for Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Capital at the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Francis Sani, spoke at the event. He highlighted the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, emphasising that the programme aims to build Nigeria’s technical talent backbone to drive the digital economy and position Nigeria as a net talent exporter. He encouraged youth to take advantage of this opportunity.
Another panel of industry experts took the stage during the ‘Lunch and Learn: Navigating Entrepreneurship in a Rapidly Changing Landscape’ session, moderated by Sade Dada, Head of Public Policy for Anglophone West Africa at Meta. Seye Bandele, CEO of PaidHR and Damilola Teidi-Ayoola, Head of Platform and Networks at Ventures Platform Fund, shared their invaluable insights.
Seye highlighted the importance of grit, curiosity and candour, while Damilola reinforced the need to understand one’s target audience, deliver value through their business and embrace data-driven decision-making in the dynamic entrepreneurial landscape.
The event also featured vibrant and inspiring conversations with leading figures in the creative industry. Miss Techy, an award-winning tech content creator and Salem King, a creator, storyteller, author and speaker, shared their experiences and advice on achieving long-term success.
Attendees also benefited from an interactive workshop and a mentoring session, where industry experts shared practical advice and strategies for entrepreneurs and tech enthusiasts.
Meta’s Youth Summit 2024 highlights a commitment to driving positive change, championing youth empowerment and advancing economic opportunities in Nigeria.
Through investments in key areas—such as the creative industry, digital literacy, economic impact and youth job training—Meta is dedicated to empowering young Nigerians to thrive in today’s tech-driven world. The aim is to foster innovation, promote digital literacy and empower young Nigerians with the tools and opportunities to realise their potential and contribute to Nigeria’s growing digital economy.
