200 Kogi Youths benefit from AI training sponsored by Finance Commissioner
By Boluwaji Obahopo, Lokoja
LOKOJA — The Kogi State Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Asiwaju Asiru Idris, has emphasized that in today’s world, success is driven not just by resources but by knowledge, technology, and innovation, highlighting Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a critical tool for progress.
Speaking at the three-day AI training (Phase 2) held at the Banquet Hall of the Government House, Lokoja, Asiwaju Idris described AI as “not the future, but the present,” urging individuals and nations to embrace it to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving global economy.
Organized by the Tinubu/Ododo 2027 Continuity Support Group and sponsored by the Finance Commissioner, the program aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and Kogi State’s 32-Year Development Plan, which focuses on Prosperity, Resilience, and Clear Direction.
“Artificial Intelligence is shaping industries, governance, entrepreneurship, and daily life,” the commissioner said. “Nations and individuals who adopt these tools today will define the prosperity of tomorrow.”
The training equipped participants with practical, income-generating digital skills, including Canva for design and CapCut for video editing, aiming to improve productivity, efficiency, and profitability in various sectors.
Dr. Olufemi Bolarin, Kogi State Commissioner for Livestock Development, commended the initiative as a potential income source for participants and pledged collaboration with trained youths to advance the ministry’s objectives using AI-driven solutions.
Asiwaju Idris noted that empowering youths with practical digital skills strengthens the economy, promotes self-reliance, and builds a future-ready generation. “Sustainable development is achieved not only through infrastructure but by equipping people with knowledge and skills,” he said.
He urged participants to engage actively, practise deliberately, and apply what they learned, stressing that the initiative contributes to Kogi State’s digital economy and broader national growth.
Close to 200 youths from across the state benefited from the training, which the commissioner said demonstrates Kogi State’s strategic, digital, and economic progress.