Young innovators control ICT world'

The Chief Executive Officer, New Horizon, Mr. Tim Akano, has said the Information and Communications Technology world is being controlled by young innovators who have founded companies such as Google, Facebook and WhatsApp.

He, therefore, urged students to empower themselves with suitable ICT training programme if they must be relevant in today’s workplace and business environment.

He said this at the opening of an international IT resource centre at Landmark University, Omu-Aran, near Ilorin, Kwara State, a statement from the company indicated.

The centre, according to firm, will empower students of the school with the most sought after skills and professional certification.

He said, “You can be self-employed after graduation. You can create your own companies and become employers of labour. Some days ago, Facebook acquired WhatsApp, a messaging company founded by two young people for $19bn that is about 40 per cent of Nigeria’s GDP.”

“Few months ago, Apple Incorporated bought a mapping company owned by a young Nigerian by name Chinedu for $1bn. Google also bought a company called WAZE for $1bn. You can begin to do similar innovations by dreaming big,” he said.

The Pro Chancellor of Landmark University, Professor Yemi Nathaniel, opened the IT resource centre, worth over N100m, alongside the Vice Chancellor, Prof Mathew Ajayi.

Nathaniel enjoined the students to avail themselves of the opportunities that the new technology could offer.

He recalled that the journey to actualise the project began four years ago.

He said, “I want to commend the New Horizons team for their tenacity and for not giving up even when things seemed not to be going the way they were expecting.

“I want our students to take maximum advantage of the opportunities available at the IT resource centre. I believe even if you are studying History with the skills and certification programmes offered by the New Horizons/Landmark University, you can work anywhere in the world, including the oil industry.”