African Youths Should Embrace AI, Obasanjo Says

African youths have been encouraged by former President Olusegun Obasanjo to embrace artificial intelligence in order to progress their careers and get ready for the future.

He shared this advice during a Q&A session at the 5th Edition of the Presidential Youth Mentoring Retreat, held at the Youth Development Centre, Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

“If I were your age, between 20 and 35, I would focus on AI,” Obasanjo said. “By 2040, there will be countless driverless vehicles on roads worldwide, all powered by AI. The advancements AI will bring are beyond our imagination.”

Obasanjo recounted a recent experience with AI, where he witnessed AI generating and perfecting a lecture, noting, “If I were your age and hadn’t decided on a career path, I would go for AI.”

Reflecting on technological evolution, he remarked, “By 2040, I imagine we’ll have devices that serve as phones, radios, and TVs, controlling everything in our homes. Unfortunately, I’ll be gone by then, but it’s exciting to think about.”

Obasanjo shared a story from Aliko Dangote, who told him about hiring drivers for 1,000 trucks, only to find that six of the applicants were PhD holders. “Those six are lucky for now, but in 25 years, trucks will be driverless, and they’ll need new skills,” he noted, highlighting the impending transformation in the workforce due to automation.

He also discussed changes in agriculture, saying, “Thirty years ago, I worried about young people not taking up farming. Now they’re using technology to innovate. Farming isn’t just about using cutlasses and hoes anymore.” He mentioned a discussion with the University of Lagos Vice Chancellor on “city farming,” which involves soilless, indoor farming that can be done in urban areas.

Obasanjo encouraged the youth to approach every situation as an opportunity to learn. He recounted his own transformative experiences from 1979 to 1999, a period that included high-level global interactions and even three years in prison. “Every experience, even prison, taught me something valuable. I don’t recommend prison as preparation, but in every situation, there’s a lesson,” he said.

“Every day offers a chance to learn. In the last 24 hours, ask yourself, “Have you learned anything?” he challenged the participants.

At the retreat, entrepreneur Dr. Ifeanyi Stanley also advised the youth, emphasizing the importance of mentorship, integrity, hard work, humility, consistency, risk-taking, a positive mindset, and continuous self-improvement as keys to success.