By Ayo Ayodele
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, has urged Nigerian youths to look beyond the country’s limited domestic job market and position themselves for emerging opportunities in the global labour space.
Prof. Yilwatda made the call on Thursday while delivering the Convocation Lecture at the Combined 6th, 7th and 8th Convocation Ceremony of Akwa Ibom State University in Uyo. The lecture was themed, “Leveraging Emerging Technology to Enhance University Education and National Development.”
Addressing graduating students, the APC chairman said the world has evolved into a borderless labour market where digital skills and innovation now outweigh physical location.
“The world has become a single, borderless labour market. Global jobs are today more available than local jobs, especially for young people equipped with the right digital skills. Nigerian youths must therefore think globally, compete globally, and work globally,” he said.
He observed that Nigerian universities have traditionally operated within local frameworks, producing graduates who compete primarily within domestic job markets. However, he stressed that this model must change in light of rapid globalisation and technological advancement.
According to him, the Fourth Industrial Revolution—driven by artificial intelligence, data analytics, robotics, biotechnology and digital platforms—has fundamentally redefined work and employability. In this new era, competence, creativity and digital literacy are more critical than geography.
Prof. Yilwatda urged universities to align their curricula, research priorities and teaching approaches with global standards by embedding emerging technologies across disciplines. He identified four key pillars for building a world-class university system: graduate employability, impactful research, international outlook, and quality teaching and learning.
While acknowledging Nigeria’s abundant natural resources, particularly oil and gas assets in Akwa Ibom State, he maintained that sustainable prosperity would depend more on human capital than hydrocarbons.
“In the 21st century, oil will matter less than algorithms, and land will matter less than innovation. The true wealth of nations now lies in the quality of their human capital,” he stated.
The APC chairman encouraged graduates to become lifelong learners and creators of technology rather than mere consumers. He also advised them to leverage global digital platforms for remote jobs, international collaborations and entrepreneurial ventures.
He further challenged Akwa Ibom State University to strengthen its digital infrastructure, deepen interdisciplinary research, expand industry partnerships and integrate entrepreneurship across faculties to become a hub of innovation.
Describing universities as engines of national transformation, Prof. Yilwatda urged the graduating class to view their convocation not just as a celebration but as a commissioning into global relevance and responsibility.
“You are not victims of global disruption; you are the designers of the response. Graduate boldly, innovate fearlessly, and lead ethically. The world is watching, and the opportunity is yours,” he said.
The statement was signed by Abimbola Tooki, Special Adviser to the APC National Chairman on Media and Communications Strategy.