The Intellectual group, a youth led organization based in Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) in Ogbomoso, held a day IT seminar on Saturday 24 January, 2004 at the 1200 seaters lecture theatre.

The seminar tagged “IT as a tool for youth empowerment” was well attended by the students and other young people from across the country. Though the turn out was a bit low to the number of people expected to attend the seminar, the seminar was still able to do justice to the purpose it was designed for.

In his welcome address, the president of The Intellectual Group, Olawale Rotimi, made it known that many people have given up trying and as if that is not enough. He said they have convinced many other people from making an attempt. He encouraged the gathering to improve, develop, and also to groom themselves. He told them that their talent is their passport to fulfillment in life. He finally charged the young people to reach for the top, to acquire the necessary skills, to refine their talents, to nurse an idea and then they shall surely make.

The current Information Technology youth ambassador, Edward Popoola, a computer science student at the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University Ife, a web designer and also represents ideal Nigerian youth talked about making positive use of the internet. He highlighted so many positive things youth can do with the Internet and several other opportunities available to youth on the Internet.

Babatope Soremi, the project manager of West Africa NGO Network (wangonet) based in Victoria Island, Lagos also made a wonderful speech at the seminar. Babatope, a young dynamic and very vibrant young Nigeria, spoke on “IT and the future of Nigerian youths”. He talked about the challenges facing Nigerian youths as well as opportunities available to them on IT. Babatope Soremi a crusader in the effort to raise the level of IT awareness amongst young people .He speaks at various workshops and conferences across the nation. He has represented Nigerian youths at conferences around the globe.

Another wonderful speaker at the seminar was Mr. Igho Oferen, who spoke on “Youth as a catalyst in Building a New Nigeria”. Igho Oferen was until recently a Senior Manager at Midas Bank PLC,a new generation Bank based in Lagos Nigeria. He is currently the CEO of Rohic Consulting also based in Lagos. Igho is a speaker of substance who believes in inspiring, motivating and empowering youth people to make something good out of their lives. He made a fantastic speech at the seminar and urges the youths to be the change they want to see in their respective community.

Nigeria’s first and ex- IT youth ambassador, Gbenga Sesan was another incredible speaker that graced the occasion. Gbenga Sesan, the Coordinator of Paradigm Initiative Nigeria, a youth led group based in Nigeria. He is also the co-founder of Africa Youth Initiative. Gbenga Sesan who has represented Nigerian youths for over two years at various seminars worldwide is also an advisor to The Intellectual Group.

In the paper he delivered titled “IT: a tool for positive change” Gbenga Sesan dealt with the issue of the need to embrace Information technology as the only valid passport allowing entry into the Information Society. The full presentation explored such important concepts as the digital divide, Information and knowledge technologies, and the new economy.

Gbenga Sesan who has received several national and international awards amongst them are, “Frontier of Technology in Nigeria” awards, Excellent in Information Technology Awards, International Telecommunications Union’s Africa 2001 Youth Fellowship” awards and the “Ten outstanding Great Ife Alumni” Awards. Only recently, he was honored as one of the “Ten outstanding persons in Nigeria”.

The seminar was indeed a great one as it served the purpose it was designed for and everybody was happy about it. All the speakers really inspired, motivated, and empowered the gathering with their powerful speeches. The seminar was indeed a great one.