BENIN CITY — The two-day Edo Youth 2.0 Impact Forum, organised by the Edo State Government, has opened in Benin City with the Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Dennis Idahosa, urging youths in the state to harness technology to develop their ideas and create sustainable opportunities.
The forum, holding at the Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub on Airport Road, Benin City, has as its theme: “Ideas, Capital and Impact.”
Speaking in his keynote address, Idahosa recalled his humble beginnings in the private sector before venturing into public service, stressing that an individual’s background should not determine his or her future.
He urged the participants to remain resilient in the face of challenges, noting that determination, innovation and the effective use of available opportunities could help them overcome obstacles and achieve their aspirations.
According to him, the state government is not only interested in encouraging young people to generate innovative ideas but is also prepared to provide grants to some of them to scale up their initiatives.
The Deputy Governor, however, cautioned beneficiaries to use any government support judiciously and for the purposes for which it was provided.
He said: “Government is not only encouraging ideas to be generated but grants will be provided to some youths to scale up the process which must be put to judicious use.”
Idahosa further encouraged the youths to take advantage of technological advancements to improve existing ideas and transform them into viable ventures.
He said: “Use the available technology to enhance existing ideas.”
In her welcome address, the Edo State Commissioner for Youth Affairs, Charity Amayavbeyo, said the theme of the forum was designed to “re-energize the dreams of Edo youths to actualisation.”
Amayavbeyo noted that Edo youths had continued to demonstrate creativity, talent and great potential, but required mentorship, access to capital and empowerment opportunities to translate their ideas into tangible achievements.
She emphasised that success in the contemporary world requires collaboration among government, individuals and the private sector.
The commissioner therefore called for stronger partnerships among the three sectors to create more opportunities for young people and strengthen the future prospects of Edo youths.
The forum attracted youths from across the state, including National Youth Service Corps members, entrepreneurs and prospective business owners.
Participants were divided into various masterclass sessions designed to expose them to practical knowledge and emerging opportunities in areas such as artificial intelligence, storytelling for audience engagement and skill tracking, among others.
The event, which was also attended by the Coordinator, Office of the First Lady, Edo State, Edesili Okpebholo Anani, and other top government functionaries, provided an opportunity for young people to network, exchange ideas and engage in discussions on empowerment, entrepreneurship and personal development.
