The Anthony Fatayi Williams Foundation for Peace, reconciliation and Youth Development recently held its maiden edition of the AFW Foundation Webinar Series to chart ways of lifting Nigeria’s youths out of poverty and unemployment. The event was in commemoration of the 15th anniversary of the murder of Anthony Fatayi-Williams at the 7/7 London terrorists bombings. The topic under discourse was ‘’DWINDLING REVENUE: ROAD MAP TO LIFTING NIGERIA’S YOUTHFUL POPULATION OUT OF POVERTY IN A POST COVID DIGITAL ECONOMY.’’ The webinar had in attendance the Director General of the Budget office, FRN, Mr. Ben Akabueze as the KEYNOTE SPEAKER. Other Panelist included Mrs. Ngozi Iwere (CEO/Founder, Community Life Project) and Mr. Dele Nedd (MD/ Co-Founder Descasio Limited). Other attendees included the National President of Catholic Youth Organisation of Nigeria (CYON) and select youth members, the National and Lagos Catholic Archdiocesan Youth Chaplains : Rev Frs Obayi and Odunaya respectively, also in attendance were other youths, a cross section of experts, friends and participants from within and outside Nigeria.. Declaring the event open, the convener/ moderator and Chairperson of the Foundation, late Anthony’s mother, Dame Marie Fatayi-Williams, said her decision to embark on the webinar series was her growing concern at the rise in youth unemployment and poverty in the country, both further compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to her, the reality of the pandemic calls for new ways of confronting these challenges in the country, whilst asking how equipped and technologically prepared are the youths for the ‘new normal’ ways of learning, of work and of doing business. She said it has therefore become imperative for the government to empower the youths to embrace digital technology through focussed education, relevant skills, opportunities and knowledge acquisition. In his presentation, the Guest Speaker and DG Budget office, FRN, Mr. Ben Akabueze advocated for digital entrepreneurship as the panacea for lifting
