Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has advised African youth, particularly those between 20 and 35 years old, to seize the opportunities emerging in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI), which he believes will soon transform many traditional roles currently held by humans.
Obasanjo shared these insights during an interactive session with young people from Nigeria and other African countries at a four-day Presidential Youth Mentoring Retreat held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta, Ogun State. The retreat, themed “Youth in a Fractured World,” aimed to inspire the next generation to adapt to a rapidly changing world.
Reflecting on AI’s potential, Obasanjo recounted his amazement when he observed a demonstration of AI capabilities. “If I were your age, between 20 and 35, and I didn’t have a chosen path, I would focus on AI,” he advised. “By 2040, the number of driverless vehicles on the roads will be unimaginable, thanks to AI,” he continued, emphasizing that the technology will drastically reshape industries. He described a recent experience where AI successfully drafted and refined a lecture, demonstrating its powerful capabilities.
He also recounted a conversation with businessman Aliko Dangote, who shared that when he advertised for truck drivers, six PhD holders applied, underscoring the potential for driverless technology to eliminate such jobs in the future. Obasanjo urged young people to think ahead and be adaptable, as AI-driven transformations will require new skills and innovative career paths.
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Obasanjo highlighted other technological advancements, such as urban farming innovations, which are attracting young people back to agriculture with a fresh, technology-driven approach. “In recent years, my concern about young people entering farming has faded,” he said, explaining that modern agricultural methods, such as city and soilless farming, are drawing the interest of a new generation.
Reflecting on his personal experiences, Obasanjo shared that the two decades between his roles as military head of state (1979) and elected president (1999) were transformative for him. During that period, he engaged with some of the brightest minds in politics, economics, and diplomacy, which he referred to as his “high free education.” He also noted the valuable lessons he learned during his imprisonment, urging the youth to see every experience as an opportunity for learning, regardless of the circumstances.
“Every day should be an opportunity to learn something new,” Obasanjo told the youth, challenging them to reflect on what they had learned in the past 24 hours.
The mentorship session also featured insights from Dr. Ifeanyi Stanley, who encouraged participants to keep faith and remain focused, emphasizing, “When there is a vision, there will always be provision.”
Dr. Bisi Kolapo, Chairperson of the Olusegun Obasanjo Youth Centre, welcomed the participants and noted that since its inception in 2019, the mentorship programme has continued to grow in popularity. This year, more than 5,000 youths applied to participate, with about 60 selected from across Africa, highlighting the programme’s increasing impact.
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