Speakers and participants at a recently concluded one-day e-seminar on youth empowerment have identified poor digital literacy, inadequate skills, and limited exposure as major barriers to youth productivity and development.
The virtual event, themed “Beyond Politics: Empowering Ebira Youths to Build Purpose, Peace and Prosperity,” was hosted by the Trans Atlantic Centre (TAC)—a research, recreation, and community development initiative—in collaboration with the New Ebira Development Initiative.
Delivering the keynote address, Prof. Ahmed Abere, Provost of the National Defence College Nigeria, who was represented by Dr. Kabiru Abaukaka, highlighted critical capacity gaps among youths. He pointed to deficiencies in digital literacy, poor orientation, and premature involvement in politics without adequate preparation or understanding of governance processes.
Other speakers, including Prof. Abdulmumin Momoh of the University of Nigeria Nsukka and Dr. Godwin Oyibo, President-General of the Ebira Peoples Association (EPA), delivered papers on related sub-themes. They aligned with the keynote position, stressing that failure to harness modern technological opportunities—particularly those offered by the internet—alongside weak mentorship structures, has significantly limited youth advancement.
In their contributions, discussants Mrs. Latifah Isa, a legislative aide at the House of Representatives Nigeria, Coach
Nafisat Abdullahi Aliyu, a mentor and empowerment expert, and Mohammed Arube, an administrator and investor, unanimously emphasized that inadequate skills, mentorship, and digital literacy remain key drivers of low productivity among Ebira youths.
The discussants, themselves within the youth demographic, further noted that neglecting emerging opportunities in the digital space, skills acquisition, and continuous learning constitutes a major setback for young people.
Participants at the seminar were consequently urged to take advantage of initiatives such as the e-seminar, embrace skill development across various fields, and pursue self-reliance in order to avoid political manipulation.
The event attracted 87 registered participants, with about 30 attendees joining the session via Google Meet.
Notable participants included Jamil Abdulrahman, Mamman Omeiza, and Abdul Kareem Oiza, among others.