Enugu: Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State has urged young innovators to harness opportunities in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies to address pressing societal challenges in health, education, and agriculture. Mbah made the call during the opening ceremony of the second edition of the Enugu Tech Festival, held at the International Conference Centre, Enugu.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the governor described the gathering as more than just a technology conference, stating it represented ‘a reinforcement of intent’ for Enugu’s digital future. He encouraged young people in the state to master AI, cybersecurity, semiconductor design, and other emerging fields, while applying technology to transform traditional sectors. Mbah emphasized that the tech revolution involves transforming the old economy, highlighting the need for precision farming in agriculture, telemedicine in healthcare, and automation in manufacturing.
The governor stressed that the festival aimed not merely to produce coders but critical thinkers capable of building solutions for global markets from Enugu. He noted that the world was experiencing an economic renaissance powered by technology, with innovation moving to the mainstream of global development. Mbah pointed to global tech giants like Apple and Microsoft as examples of how ideas, code, and data now drive the global economy.
Reflecting on Enugu’s history as a coal-producing hub, Mbah stated the need for the state to transition from an extractive economy to one driven by innovation. He emphasized that innovation begins with identifying and solving real problems, citing global examples of startups that grew from addressing everyday frustrations. Mbah advised against chasing invention for its own sake and urged focusing on understanding and fixing real issues properly.
Earlier, the State Commissioner for Innovation, Science, and Technology, Lawrence Eze, described the festival as a defining moment in Enugu’s digital journey. According to him, the state has emerged as one of Nigeria’s leading tech ecosystems, with numerous youths trained through various initiatives and several innovation hubs established since the inaugural festival. Eze highlighted the festival’s objectives, including strengthening partnerships, launching pilot projects in key sectors, promoting sustainable business practices, and expanding digital infrastructure. He urged investors, policymakers, and young innovators to move beyond ideas and focus on execution.