FinTech: Nigerian youths are tech savvy, need more support to excel in digital space –UNILAG VC

*Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, emphasises today’s youths are more technology savvy, and own the future, in regard to the continued search for effective solutions to numerous challenges facing the Nigerian economy

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

Nigerian youths are more technology savvy, and own the future, and there can be no future without the youths.

Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka-Yaba, Lagos, who stated this Thursday, November 9, 2023, at the 2023 STAC Reform Conference, emphasised that challenges facing Nigeria are surmountable, if the youths are given more support in the technology space.

The KB Club of the University’s College of Medicine organise the conference with the theme: “Transforming Healthcare through Financial Technology”.

The club is a medical socio philanthropic organisation of medical students of the University founded in 1969 by a group headed by Prof. Oladapo Ashiru, one of the club’s grand patrons, agency report said.

The club operates on a tripod of philanthropy, academic excellence and social empowerment.

Prof. Ogunsola also stressed the fact that today’s youths are more technology savvy, and own the future, and there can be no future without the youth.

Such spirit, the Vice-Chancellor noted, is needed in the search for solutions to the numerous challenges facing the various sectors of the country’s economy.

She equally noted the healthcare and education sectors are two key sectors of the country’s economy that could open the door to development.

Finding solutions to their accessibility, using technology is critical, and this involve bright and active youths, Ogunsola opined.

According to her, members of the KB Club had always come up with topical issues that would impact the society each time they organised their event.

The Vice-Chancellor

applauded the young leaders for ways they have gone about it, ensuring that they yielded the much desired results in this regard.

She further stated: “Today’s event is all about entrepreneurship and impacting the society. It is also a STACK reform, that started about five years ago.

“This particular one is about using Financial Technology to transform healthcare.

“It has to do with series of events such as speech competition by secondary schools, elevated pitching by university students and essay competition about Artificial Intelligence (AI) and transforming healthcare.”

Ogunsola also said: “Let me say I am proud to be here because the KB Club and the students are always pushing boundaries.

“They are always topical, seeking solutions to societal challenges.

“One thing they are always after, is about development and improvement.”

She said: “I think they are the kind of students we look forward to having and who are role models.

“This is because they see these challenges and rather than complain, they go about in search of solutions.

“So, essentially, they are the kind of students, who, when given lemon, they make lemonade.”

According to her, she has been their matron for about four years, and knows what they are capable of doing.

Describing members of the club as always neat, polite and cautious, she stated that the students, who are also intelligent, usually go through the grooming of the club’s discipline skills while in medical school.

“They usually look impeccable, polite and must also be doing well academically.

“This is the first time they are bringing this event here on campus. It is usually held at the College of Medicine.

“We are looking forward to a robust communiqué at the end of this programme. One of the things for me is all about technology. They are more technology savvy than we are,” she stated.

Prof. Ogunsola added: “Where we stand is a bit far. They are closer to that future.

“So, I am hoping that by the time they are through, we will get done understanding of their perspective, and hopefully, we can incorporate it into what we do.”

STACK campaign is about enlightenment, says Okunsanya, KB Club Vice-President

Also speaking on the sidelines of the event in Lagos, Mr. Olusola Okunsanya, Vice-President of KB Club at the College of Medicine, explained the STACK campaign was all about enlightenment.

Okunsanya who is also a final year student of the college, said that the essence of the conference was to see how advancement in FinTech could revolutionise healthcare delivery and practice in the country and the world at large.

Healthcare professionals, students and stakeholders in the FinTech space are among those participating at the conference, he noted.

The Vice-President also stated: “It is a conference for students, entrepreneurs, growth professionals and policy makers to examine the latest trends and tactics in driving healthcare growth in Nigeria.

“The whole essence is to come together and discuss, exchange ideas on how advancement in fintech could revolutionise the healthcare sector.”

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