The African Project Coordinator of Scefund Token (SFT), Dr Chimbo Obieze, has urged the Federal Government to make efforts to expand actualities and opportunities in digital economy for the benefit of teeming unemployed youths.
Obieze told newsmen in Enugu on Tuesday that there were many means of increasing employment in this century through maximisation of the digital economy and technical knowhow to check the spate of youths’ unemployment.
Support Children Education Fund (Scefund) which was launched in February 2021 is aimed at helping the less privileged children of school age and beyond to attain full educational pursuit irrespective of their background and social status.
He lauded President Muhammadu Buhari for the creation of Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, adding that “It is a right step in the right direction, given the limitless opportunities the ministry has to create jobs for Nigerians”.
According to him, there is a need for youths to fully take advantage of the digital economy, which is driving the smart country and living of residents of advanced countries.
“It is high time that the numerous opportunities in digitalisation and digital economy are opened up and taught in all our tertiary and secondary schools for most of our youths to have soft (digital) skills they can make a living from”
“Today, with the help of artificial intelligence infused in digitalisation and computer world; most human work or endeavours are done seamlessly with precision while the individual(s) concerned are working from remote areas or homes”
“In known work of life, where it is traditionally done with human skill and strength; additional of digitalisation in areas such as music, creative art, cooking, film making and other professions – gives it a 21 century perfection and precision as well”
“With digital economy and knowledge, our graduates will turn to job-owners and employers of labour rather than job-seekers and still depend heavily on their aging parents,” he said.
Obieze noted that up-scaling the use of digital economy and knowledge would not only create jobs but also check criminality, youths’ restiveness and unnecessary aggression.
The coordinator also lauded the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for creating the e-naira platform, adding that it shows that the country is moving in tandem with innovative financial development.
Obieze called on the apex bank and the ministry of communications and digital economy to come out with legislation to regularise crypto-currency and block-chain trading businesses and markets.
“Today, about 32 per cent of the country’s youths are involved in crypto-currency activities and transaction. Most law enforcement agencies mistaken this youths as ‘yahoo boys and girls’ but they actually engage in crypto-currency trading”
“When the apex bank and government come out with a regulation on their activities; the government can tax crypto-currency businesses and effectively monitor what they do for greater national economic benefit as well as job creation,’’ he said.
The coordinator also revealed that Scefund Token, in collaboration with Chartered Institute of Educational Practitioners in UK (Ciepuk), would soon educate Nigerians on how to buy and invest in Scefund Token for their children’s education and empowerment after school.
According to him, investment of parents and guardians on Scefund Token will guaranty a set-a-side money, which will appreciate over time, for their children to use in completing his or her education. It will also empower them to be a job-owners.