In line with its resolve to continually impact Nigerian youths with the knowledge and skills to take advantage of the future, the Finance and Business Online Publishers (FIBOP) Association held the third edition of its Youth Capacity Building and Empowerment Programme on Thursday, June 4, 2026, at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Conference Centre, Alausa, Ikeja,
The programme themed “Digital Skills, Artificial Intelligence, Online Safety, Insurance and Financial Literacy for Nigerian Youth”, exposed the participants to practical skills and knowledge to take advantage of their digital and financial future.
Engaging participants and guests in his address of welcome, President of the Association, Mr. Charles Onwuatogwu, emphasized the importance of good education for the future generation, stressing that equipping young people with relevant skills is key to national growth and personal development.
Mr. Onwuatogwu decried the recent spate of kidnapping of students across the country, insisting that Nigerian students deserve a more secure and conducive atmosphere for learning and self development.
He called on the various tiers of government to do everything possible to secure the release of abducted children youths, secure their future and the future of Nigeria as a country.
According to him, “empowering young people with the right knowledge and skills remain one of the most effective ways of building a stronger and more resilient nation.”
At the sessions, the students were exposed to practical applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI); how it can be used to create opportunities, solve problems, and expand knowledge as well as financial literacy and how the knowledge of accounting can help them take control of their personal life and businesses both now and in the future.
One Speaker after another took turns to explain to the participants the importance of the various aspects of the programme theme.
Dr. Deji Awobotu FCA, mni, Chief Executive of ADRAC Professional Services Consulting and fellow of the Chartered Institute of Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), encouraged the students to make the best use of their youthful days in positioning themselves for competitiveness in the labour market both locally and internationally. He explained that age is not a barrier to obtaining professional certification or qualification such as I CAN, maintaining that they could start writing their ICAN exam even while awaiting admission to the university.
With a focus on digital skills, AI awareness, online safety, insurance knowledge, and financial literacy, the programme reinforced FIBOP’s Commitment to equipping Nigerian youth with the right information and skills for improved productivety in an increasingly technology-driven world.
For Mr. Ubi Okoi, who took the participants through the digital session, the way and manner we live our lives as well as do businesses have been seriously impacted by the rapid advancement in technology particularly the advent of AI. He stressed the importance of digital skill application in our daily lives and in business.
Okoi encouraged participants not to constantly seek to improve their digital knowledge as it will help strengthen their skills, help them make better informed choices, as well as build better and more secure future.
This year’s program was supported by the Apapa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service(NCS), the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) and the KLT Command of the NCS.