By Modupe Gbadeyanka
On Thursday, July 15, 2021, several important personalities will converge virtually for the World Youth Skills Day Conference put together by WeForGood International in partnership with IHS Nigeria and the United Nations Information Centre (Lagos).
A statement from the organisers said the event, which kicks off by 11:00 am, will require interested participants to register for free via https://bit.ly/SSAfrica_UNWYSD2021.
In 2014, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) declared July 15 as World Youth Skills Day to celebrate the strategic importance of equipping young people with skills for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship.
This year’s conference will also serve as the launch event for the 3rd edition of the Sustainable Solutions Africa Project, an initiative to promote skills for sustainable development.
The event will feature high-level speakers, panel sessions and breakout sessions to dissect the theme Driving Africa’s Sustainable Growth Through Technology as well as the sub-themes How might we Leverage Technology to Build the Africa we want? and Innovation in Africa – Harnessing the Continent’s Capacities.
Some confirmed speakers for the conference include Prof. Ndubuisi Ekekwe, Lead Faculty, Tekedia Institute USA, a Global Young Leader of the World Economic Forum; Mrs Bilikis Adebiyi-Abiola, DG, Archives and Records, Lagos State and Co-Founder, WeCyclers Corporation; Mr Femi Longe, Founder PartnershipLab and Co-Founder, Co-Creation Hub (CCHub); and Mr Samuel C. Ayo, CEO, CyberAware Africa, Uganda.
Other confirmed speakers are Mr Femi Oye, CEO, SMEFunds and OneWatt Solar; Ms Ireayo Oladunjoye, Head Startups (Ag), Lagos State Employment Trust Fund; Dr Faith Nwaobia, President, Youthup Global; Mr Solomon King, CEO, Brass & Books Financial Services and Ms Nneka Ukay, Executive Secretary, Innovation Support Network (ISN Hubs) amongst others.
Apart from the intellectual discussions, the conference, which will be anchored by Temi Popoola, will also feature side attractions such as entertainment, quizzes and a raffle draw with amazing gifts to be won.