Lagos:Young Nigerians aiming for a career in technology are encouraged to combine skills in artificial intelligence (AI) with in-depth industry knowledge to maintain relevance in the evolving digital economy.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, digital experts shared this advice during a virtual ICT Career Talk organized by Bincom Dev Centre, themed ‘Agentic AI: The Next Frontier of Tech Careers.’ The event featured insights from Mr. Akohamen Agenmonmen, Founder of SurfSpot Communications Ltd., and Quazim Ogungbayi, an IT project and product management professional.
Agenmonmen highlighted the distinction between generative AI, which creates content in response to prompts, and agentic AI, which can plan and execute tasks within defined parameters. He emphasized the necessity of human oversight to ensure the quality, cost-effectiveness, and outcomes of AI-driven work. He advised young professionals to explore opportunities in AI orchestration, workflow engineering, AI-native software development, safety, governance, and industry-specific applications.
Ogungbayi suggested that aspiring AI professionals start with simple automated workflows, like organizing emails or drafting responses for human review, before advancing to more autonomous systems. He recommended dedicating about 90 days to focused learning and application in their fields to develop practical skills. Understanding application programming interfaces (APIs) and workflow design, he noted, would enhance learners’ ability to build effective AI systems.
Both experts highlighted the importance of governance as AI agents gain access to sensitive systems and operations. Ogungbayi recommended organizations implement limited system permissions, audit trails, and human review to ensure accountability. Addressing data privacy, the speakers urged caution in sharing personal information with AI platforms and stressed the need for responsible access controls and clear accountability in AI system deployment.
The online career development program was hosted by Gloria Ibeneme and organized by the Lagos-based Bincom Dev Centre.