According to Usman Umar Barambu, NANS President, the award is in recognition of Uncle Tim’s leadership acumen, passionate professional capabilities, fervent and productive contribution to the societal development of the nation, and support for humanity.

Through ‘Uncle Tim’, many youths from universities, Polytechnic, and Colleges of Education have enjoyed numerous scholarships, internship, job placement, mentorship, and skills acquisition in the last 20 years across Nigeria and Africa.

ALSO READ: INEC Should Carry Out Stress Test on BVAS before Elections – Tim Akano

The deputy senate president, NANS, Ekundina Elvis, while presenting the award said the leadership of the association is happy with all the support  Uncle Tim has been rendering to Nigerian students and youths.

He said, “We appreciate a man who has thought it expedient to build a nation, a man who has always been at the forefront of building leaders of today and leaders of tomorrow. We believe history will never forget a man who turned a village into a city, and history will still never forget a man who turned a city into a village.

“Like Oliver Twist, we will always ask for more,” Elvis said, adding that ” what we want to ask from you is that you should not relent in doing the good works you have been doing, and we believe this is the starting point.”

In his comment at the occasion, the NANS public relations officer, Giwa Temitope, also showered praises on Tim Akano saying ‘Uncle Tim is the tested and trusted leader and mentor of all the Nigerian students and Youths.

He recounted many scholarships and assistance Uncle Tim has been rendering to the Youths all over Nigeria and Africa through New Horizons and One Africa Initiatives Academy. Giwa concluded that this recognition giving to Uncle Tim was to encourage him to do more for the Youths most especially in these trying times”

Mr. Tim Akano, the CEO of New Horizons Nigeria,  responded to the award by saying, “I want to show my deep and sincere appreciation to the association because this is the first of its kind in Nigeria as NANS  Man of the Year, even though I have received so many awards.” I want you to know how much I truly and deeply value this particular one from NANS.

It could be recalled that in the last two years, close to 150 Youths organisations have bestowed an honour on uncle Tim for his unparalleled commitment to the success and progress of the Youths across Africa.

“The day I understood that the reason God created me and  saw me through life’s many challenges and spared my life was to reproduce myself in millions of youths across the continent was my happiest day in life”. To me it is beyond a mission, it is a commission, It is for this purpose and assignment I was born and it is for this commission I am living for”.

Today, “African Youths see me as their next of kin in virtually all situation.”  Thousands of Nigerian and African students are currently under mentoring through the NGO founded by uncle Tim called One Africa Initiatives Academy (OAIA).

“I believe that supporting youth through education is the best investment I can make in their lives because when they are educated and acquire necessary  life’s skills, a lot of things can change for the better.”

Akano took advantage of the opportunity to encourage the elderly to support today’s youth in any way they can. “We must recognise that we cannot always be able to do everything by ourselves forever, and our relevance tomorrow is dependent on how many young ones we can bring up to stand stronger than us,”

“All the lessons I have learned, the mistakes I have made, I am sharing everything with the youths because our time on earth is limited and I do not want them to repeat those mistakes I made.

I am committed in ensuring that what took me 40 years to accomplish our youths should be able to get it done within 25 years. They should move at a faster speed than myself and that is why you see me surrounding myself with the youths ”

“Today I spend close to 70% of my disposable time on mentoring the Youths across Africa. This week alone, I sponsored a Youth Event program in Uganda that brought together the Youths of that country and I have never been to Uganda. But I believe in “One Africa” and I am the Chief Promoter of that ideal that the youths in Africa must unite and come together for total transformation of mother continent.

And the results are all over the places, some of the Youths I have mentored are now the ones making waves in Silicon valley, USA, UK, Canada and Nigeria. “The entire 360 degrees leadership of Students Associations in Universities, Polytechnic, Colleges of Education, etc., consists of the Youths under mentorship. And the feeling and the joy that come with it has no parallel”. The way the Youths reciprocate in getting virtually everything fixed for me personally worldwide without leaving the comfort of my home or office is incredibly ecstatic.

“Today, there is hardly any country in the world where I don’t have at least one Youth I have helped  doing great and who in turn, is ready to pick my call at the first ring and run around for me. That, to me, is the true meaning of success, happiness and immortality.”

The post NANS names Tim Akano, New Horizons’ CEO, 2022 Man of the Year appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

I’m a product of LSE’s generosity. But not only me, I am close enough to know. We are uncountable.

I was always with him after office hours in his office twenty years ago when he was constructing a church in his place of birth, he was so committed to details and beauty that when the church was roofed and he went for inspection and discovered some misalignment, he instructed the contractor to remove the roof and redo it, without minding the extra cost coming from his pocket.

There was this physically challenged fellow that LSE bought a car for plus a driver to make life easier for her.

During one of his birthday celebrations, he told me, “Tim, I am not inviting my friends for any birthday party this year, all the money I would have used in buying expensive wine, I am donating everything to charity”.

LSE & I

He actually looked for when I started New Horizons. He read my interview in the Vanguard news paper and asked his staff to look for me.

Prayer:

May each of us receive a telephone call before the end of 2025 that will change our life’s trajectory for good for ever in Jesus name. Amen.

I did!

Our conversation on that fateful Friday went like this:

LSE: Tim, I read your interview in the newspaper. I will like us to meet.

Tim: You are our LEADER in the Technology ecosystem, Sir.
I can come to your house tomorrow Saturday morning for a breakfast.

LSE: Tim, that’s good, I will be expecting you by 8am tomorrow in my house.

By 8am the following day, I was in his . massive, intimidating house.

As I entered the premises I said a simple prayer: The God Almighty who is blessing LSE, please Daddy God be kind to me also in my entrepreneurship journey. Amen.

That day the breakfast meeting went well. He wanted to see the man behind the ambitious vision of transforming the ICT education in Nigeria.

He saw tomorrow!

1. LSE First Intervention: Two years after I started my company, New Horizons, I ran out of cash, even to pay salary was a prayer item every 30th of the month. That was May, 2027 it remained just 72 hours for Heaven to fall on my head, metaphorically speaking, that is!

I needed N10M to stop HEAVEN FROM CRASHING ON MY HEAD!

Banks in Nigeria are irrelevant to Startups, except and until you START WALKING, banks will not come to your assistance in Nigeria.

It is O.Y.O (On Your Own) for every Start-up. If you don’t have God 100% on your side, don’t dabble into entrepreship in Nigeria!

This is why over 80% of Start-ups failed in Nigeria. In America, it is about 50%.

LSE was in Abuja on this particular Thursday. I called him and requested to see him. He told me to come.
Our conversation went like this:

LSE: Tim, I know you are keeping well.

Tim: My chairman, I am strong in faith, but in reality, heaven is hot on my side o! I need help, Chairman.

LSE: What is the matter, Tim?
Tim: I need N10M soft loan to keep afloat. It is urgent, critical and time- bound.

LSE: Ok, Tim, see me on Monday (that meeting took place on a Thursday).

Tim: My chairman, I am not exaggerating the criticality of my situation. by Monday it would be too late because Heaven would crash on my head in another 72 hours without the N10M! And it would be all over.

LSE adjusted himself, he breathed in , he looked me straight in the eyes. I wouldn’t know what LSE saw in my eyes that day.

But he stood up, went to the inner room and he came out with his cheaqe book. He gave me an Access Bank cheaqe for N10M, which I later refunded 3 months later without interest.

I survived, heaven didn’t fall that day, glory be to God and thanks to LSE.

LSE intervention 2:

This time we had grown, having survived the ABIKU YEARS (The first 5 years of Startup are the ABIKU YEARS; years of premature, sudden death. If you survive the first 5 years, your chances of living to celebrate your 20 years in business are bright. We did, all gratitude to God.

I got a business that required huge capital to execute- very big money, which was beyond my capacity.

I went to my destiny- helper again. He is never tired of seeing me. He picks my calls on the first ring. But I don’t abuse the access, too. No frivolous conversations. No irrelevant calls. Every call is about matter and mission critical

This particular day LSE was looking extremely tired that day, having over flogged his body.

He told me he had been sleeping in the office for about 3 days, busy putting his papers together to enable him close a massive business deal, which he eventually got, after fighting like a lion whose cub was taken by a lone leopard!

LSE overwhelmed every opposition.

He fought like Mohammed Alli, the world’s greatest boxer of all time. LSE won. And that changed everything for him, too, forever. Fortune favours the Brave. 

Our conversation that day went like this:

LSE: Tim, congrats you are doing well, I can see. Indeed I instructed all my staff to make sure they read any article you published (“I felt flattered”).

Tim: Chairman, I need your help, KONGA is not ready to give me the products I needed on credit and I don’t have cash to pay and the client will not pay me until after 9 months.

Tough one, indeed.

LSE: Tim, I will be honest with you, there is no way KONGA would give you products worth N500M (10 years ago money!) on credit.

Indeed, we held a meeting on Monday over your matter, the resolution of the Zinox Group is that you must look for cash before you can get the products.

Let me tell you, my staff made to sign-off on our resolution that as the Chairman of Zinox , I, LSE will not go behind to do the opposite of what we all agreed to. And I signed. Tim, I am sorry, my hands are tied!

As of that time, some of the young people LSE helped disappointed him badly. So bad, some souls are ungrateful.

Tim: Chairman, I know some of the people you helped even went to the extent of wrongfully blackmailing you in the media. I know that for a fact.

But Chairman, I am different. I am Tim Akano, I won’t disappoint you.
I will remain eternally grateful if you can still think out- of -the box and help me out.

I added: Chairman, you recall you were the one who looked for me that you would give me a helping hand in life.
I think my last statement touched him.
LSE: Tim, I will give you my personal cheaqe. Here is the cheaqe for you, take it to KONGA and pay for your goods to meet your deadline.

Tim: On getting to KONGA, from my steps and tone, the staff knew something positive had happened.
I confidently presented my cheaqe to Loretta & Co, the lady managing our account in KONGA then
They were shell shocked that God pulled it through for me another time, using Leo Stan Ekeh.

There were many more positive interventions, which I will reserve for my memoir.

Lessons:

1. The reason behind the rise and rise of Leo Stan Ekeh (LSE) has to do partly because of his massive generosity, most of them are done silently.
Yes, LSE is a shrewd business man, but he has a heart of a butterfly.

2. LSE is unconquerable and himself and his lineage will remain so because of several lives he has impacted positively.

3. We are all products of people’s generosity. No one is a self made man .In my own corner through the TIM AKANO FOUNDATION, I am giving back in thousands folds all the kindness I am enjoying from people like LSE & others. I’m not withholding any kindness from people who need it when it’s within my capacity. God saw my heart, too that when he must have helped me to stand, I will light thousands of candles.

It was William Shakespeare who admonished his followers to tell him all the good things they wanted to tell him while he was still alive because tributes written in beautiful prose means nothing to a dead person.

I congratulate LSE children, they have a great father in LSE and his legendary generosity will always speak for them up to the 4th generation, as the Holy Bible puts it. LSE children should be proud of their father; he is a Lion, an Eagle and a butterfly, (LEB) all together at the same time.

@LSE: Sir, if you manage to read this short public appreciation, which I was inspired to write while attending a wedding event (the couple is taking over one hour to come out, instead of joining people who are anxious, I decided to use my idle time to pay you this tribute today), I want you to feel proud of yourself; what you have achieved will take an average person 10 lifetimes to achieve.

Your positive numerous interventions in my entrepreneurship journey have germinated and I am also touching lives- like you- in thousands across Africa, not only in Nigeria, especially with regards to Youth Empowerment.

I am eternally grateful, my chairman, my destiny-helper.

My prayer for you my Chairman, LSE:

The Lion, the Eagle, the Butterfly (LEB) is for God to keep you continuously in sound, divine health, peace and happiness- that you will still remain strong at 120 years of age like the Biblical Moses who miraculously escaped physical depreciation in his eyes, strength and mental magnitude.

Gratitude!
Gratitude!!
Gratitude!!!

The post Leo Stan Ekeh: A “Rare Avis”, an unconquerable Entrepreneur appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

Both awards were conferred in November 2025, and this mark a significant milestone in Mr. Akano’s lifelong commitment to human capital development and social impact.

Mr. Akano, a 1983 graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University, was recognized by the university for his global impact in entrepreneurship, technology and innovation, as well as his sustained mentorship of students.

In 2023, he awarded 1,000 scholarships that was worth ₦60 million to OAU students for them to study Artificial Intelligence.

Since then, he has consistently adopted five students from the Department of International Relations annually under his structured mentorship initiative.

In the same vein, at Baptist Day School, Oluponna, Mr. Akano received a historic honour as the first alumnus ever to be decorated with a Distinguished Alumnus Award since the school was established in the 1930s.

During a recent visit to the school, Mr. Akano inspected several infrastructural projects financed by him through the Tim Akano Foundation three years ago.

These include the construction of a borehole, modern toilet facilities for teachers and pupils, and the erection of a perimeter fence and gate around the school which has prevented incessant disturbance of pupils by Fulani Herdsmen who previously engaged in reckless grazing within the school premises, polluted the environment with cow waste, and exposed the children to security risk.

All these challenges have since become a thing of the past following the erection of the perimeter fence.

In addition, the School Principal recounted a tragic incident that occurred before the fence was built, when a nine-year-old pupil was kidnapped within the school premises and was never found.

According to the Principal, the pupil had gone into a nearby bush to answer the call of nature, unaware that kidnappers were hiding there.

Since the completion of the fence three years ago, no case of pupil kidnapping has been recorded in the school.

The principal further disclosed that the school has experienced a geometric increase in enrolment since Mr. Akano’s intervention. In 2025 alone, over 30 new pupils were enrolled. This is a trend that has been consistent over the past three years.

To further enhance safety and learning conditions, the Tim Akano Foundation pledged to provide a grass-cutting machine to maintain the expansive school compound, noting that the pupils are fragile and overgrown vegetation could expose them to snake bites.

The Foundation also announced the adoption of 10 best graduating pupils, committing to sponsor their secondary school education.

Furthermore, in a move to motivate and support teachers, the Foundation introduced a monthly cash incentive for all teachers, aimed at complementing the modest government salaries.

The November incentive was paid immediately, with assurances that the initiative would continue in perpetuity.

In a symbolic and emotional moment, Mr. Akano presented the pupils with the glazed copy of his Primary School Leaving Certificate, issued by Baptist Day School in 1975.

All pupils were invited to hold the certificate as a powerful reminder that “if I can do it, you can do even more.”

In appreciation, the school management presented Mr. Akano with the Distinguished Alumnus Award, celebrating his transformative impact on the institution and its pupils.

Similarly, at Obafemi Awolowo University, Mr. Akano was honoured with the Distinguished Alumnus Award for his sustained mentorship of students and his contributions to entrepreneurship development, technology, and innovation within Nigeria and the global community.

The double recognition underscores Mr. Tim Akano’s enduring legacy as a bridge between education, opportunity, and societal transformation.

The post Tim Akano Bags Alumni Honours from OAU, Baptist Day School appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

This recognition celebrates  twenty years of New Horizons Nigeria’s outstanding commitment to developing globally competitive digital talents across the country.

With a mission deeply rooted in digital empowerment, New Horizons Nigeria has consistently pioneered innovative IT training and certification solutions tailored for students, graduates, institutions, and professionals.

AFRIBIS in her citation commended New Horizons Nigeria for the robustness of her content, the hands-on methodology in training, and the company’s focus on linking their trainees with Job opportunities through free internships work.

New Horizons Nigeria is the country’s foremost ICT training and certification company that offers cutting-edge skills development in areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Data Engineering, cybersecurity, data analysis, cloud computing, Full stack software development, Digital Marketing, Project Management and more.

With partnerships across global IT certification bodies, New Horizons is committed to raising a new generation of tech-savvy leaders for Africa.

The organization yearly, trains and certifies over 100,000 students across Nigerian universities and high schools, in order to position them for success in today’s digital economy.

In a bid to break financial barriers and promote inclusive learning, New Horizons Nigeria also provides scholarships ranging from 50% to 100% to over 20,000 students annually, with a special focus on members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

According to Mr. Tim Akano, the managing director, New Horizons Nigeria, he stated that the institute aims to equip the next generation of African leaders with globally relevant digital skills that drive innovation, boost competitiveness, and foster transformation.

“New Horizons Nigeria remains dedicated to bridging the digital divide, transforming education through technology, and creating opportunities for young Africans to become key players in the global innovation ecosystem”, he said.

In its twenty years of existence, New Horizons Nigeria has empowered over two million young Nigerians.

The organisation and the CEO has won close to 300 national, Continental and international awards in technology and youth empowerment categories.

New Horizons Nigeria is a franchise of New Horizons international, the world’s largest ICT training organization with offices in 90 countries and across the six continents.

The post New Horizons Nigeria Wins “Africa’s Most Innovative IT Training & Certification Solution Brand of the Year” at AFRIBIS Summit appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

Olayinka lost her sight completely at the age of two to measles and also lost her mother at birth. Despite these challenges, she remained determined and worked hard to complete her education, earning a B.Sc. in Psychology from the University of Benin in 2024.

She met with Mr Tim during his courtesy visit to the new NYSC state coordinator and was deeply moved by her resilience and as part of his commitment to empowering individuals through technology, he decided to support Olayinka by providing her with ICT skills.

New Horizons, an ICT institute awards over 20,000 ICT scholarships to students annually, some of which cover 100% of tuition and this initiative has been ongoing for the past 15 years.

The organisation is currently providing Olayinka with essential ICT skills, with plans to transfer her to a visually impaired school in Oshodi, to train the student with the skills she has learnt.

The company will not only provide the school with necessary resources but will also pay Olayinka’s salary for the rest of her life.

In the same vein, the Tim Akano Foundation recently launched by Mr Tim Akano has embarked on several projects.

One of the projects was the renovation of Baptist Day School, Oluponna, which was the primary school Mr Tim attended.

The foundation provided the school with a borehole; secured fence and writing materials and each of the 300 students also received a pair of uniforms.

Furthermore, the Tim Akano Foundation also established NYSC+ (PLUS), a scheme designed to mentor selected corps members from the time they arrive at the NYSC camp through their one-year mandatory service.

The program assists them in securing quality jobs or gaining university admission for further education after their service year.

In conclusion, Mr. Tim Akano in 2024 personally mentored 10 NYSC corps members, and all 10 have since been gainfully employed.

The scheme aims to groom the next generation of Nigerian leaders by equipping them with quality skills, the right vision, strong leadership traits, and a deep love for their country.

The post Tim Akano Approves Lifetime Employment for Visual Impaired Corps Member appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

This time, the International Inner Wheel Club, during its 38th National Conference & Rally on Saturday, 8th February 2025, in Lagos, honoured Mr. Tim Akano, the CEO of New Horizons, for his significant contributions to humanity through his entrepreneurial endeavours, mentorship programs, and various youth empowerment initiatives in Nigeria and across Africa.

Inner Wheel Club is an international organization with its origin in the UK and has over 100,000 members across more than 100 countries worldwide.

This year’s event was attended by several dignitaries from Nigeria and abroad.

Tim Akano was described as a foremost Pan-African youth mentor who has received close to 250 national, continental, and international awards in recognition of his immense contributions to humanity.

Through the Tim Akano Foundation, his NGO, One Africa Initiatives, and New Horizons, he facilitates the awarding of over 20,000 scholarships annually to youths.

The post Tim Akano Honoured by International Inner Wheel Club for his Entrepreneurship appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

The AI University in Nigeria, Techeconomy gathered, is part of move to advance the course of artificial intelligence (AI) in Africa.

The University aims to transform the continent into a global hub for technological innovation, addressing unemployment by equipping Nigerian youths with cutting-edge skills in AI and positioning the nation as a major player in the global AI market.

To be named Wini University, it was inspired by the world’s first AI University, established in Qatar, which attracted top scholars and innovators from countries like China, India, the United States, and Europe.

The Nigerian journey began in 2016, when a group of visionaries from Boston and Nigeria came together with a shared dream.

After years of planning, securing expressions of interest from the National University Commission (NUC), and rallying support, the vision for Wini University is now taking shape.

According to Wini Group, the varsity will revolutionise education in Africa and serve as the nucleus for Africa’s first Silicon Valley powered by AI.

They said it aimed to build a vibrant community of world-class faculty and students passionate about leveraging AI and quantum computing to drive progress in Africa and beyond.

Its mission is to create a generation of African youth who are not mere spectators in the global AI market but active players and innovators.

Also, the proposed Wini University is envisioned as Africa’s first university entirely focused on Artificial Intelligence.

This project is not just about academics; it is a bold step toward transforming Lagos into the Silicon Valley of Africa, a hub where innovation and technology converge to solve real-world problems.

In 2013, President Vladimir Putin of Russia declared that the nation leading in Artificial Intelligence would dominate as the next global superpower. Over a decade later, this prophecy continues to unfold as AI becomes the axis on which industries and human advancement revolve.

The proposed university will empower young Nigerians to create groundbreaking solutions that will redefine industries and economies.

By equipping students with cutting-edge knowledge in technologies like blockchain, cloud computing, generative AI, OpenAI, data science, and machine learning, it positions them for leadership in the rapidly evolving global AI market.

The global AI market is projected to reach $4.6 trillion by 2040. With the rapid growth of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies, Wini University represents an opportunity for Africa to claim its place on the global technological map.

According to Olukayode Akano, the chairman of WiniGroup Nigeria, the decision to locate the university in Epe was due to President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to attracting global investors to Nigeria and advancing his administration’s vision of transforming the country into a trillion-dollar economy.

Akano said the decision was also influenced by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s remarkable efforts in positioning Lagos as the “California of Africa” thereby elevating its economy to the fifth largest in Africa, which is akin to California’s global ranking.

The promoters of Wini University have gained the support of traditional rulers and prominent leaders in Epe, including HRM Oba Rafiu Balogun Elejirin of Ejinrin, in collaboration with the Lubajo-Egbe and Soje Kingdoms.

These kingdoms have generously agreed to provide their ancestral lands as the permanent site for the university.

Additionally, the establishment of Wini University is expected to significantly boost Epe’s GDP, transitioning the region from an agrarian-based economy to a thriving digital economy.

It will create quality job opportunities for the youths of Okeosho, Soje, and the entire Epe community.

Further, the university, according to Akano will focus on developing technopreneurs who will play a pivotal role in transforming Lagos State into the Silicon Valley of Africa. Innovations such as robots, drones, humanoids, mobile apps, and climate change solutions will be designed and produced for both local and international markets.

“In conclusion, the Proposed Wini University promises to transform Lagos into a thriving ecosystem of technological advancement, attracting global partnerships, investments, and talent. It focuses on practical AI-driven solutions to prepare its students for the future,” he stated.

The post Wini Group Plans First AI University in Nigeria appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

Mr. Akano highlighted key insights from global leaders and experts, capturing the essence of AI’s transformative impact on society, economies, and geopolitics.

What Are the Experts Saying?

President Putin, 4th September, 2017:

“The nation that leads in AI will be the ruler of the world.”

Elon Musk, AI Security Summit UK, 3rd November 2023:

“The biggest risk we face as a civilization is the superintelligent computers; it’s like summoning the demon.”

Ray Kurzweil:

“Envision a future when humans and machines become one, and our minds are uploaded to the cloud.”

Kai-Fu Lee, Chinese AI Angel Investor:

“AI has the potential to create technological unemployment, exacerbate global economic inequality, and bring identity crises about what it means to be human.”

AI Waves and Trends:

The 5 Waves of AI:

1. Perception AI: Digitizing the physical world, recognizing faces, and understanding surroundings.
2. Internet AI: Powering video/music streaming, online shopping, and personalized content recommendations.
3. Business AI: Mining historical and peripheral data for business growth.
4. Artificial General Intelligence (AGI): The era when superintelligent computers communicate, self-improve, and humans merge with machines.
5. Autonomous AI: Featuring self-driving cars, drones, and intelligent robots taking over various industries.

Job Impact:

20 Jobs AI Will Kill:

– Data Entry Clerk

– Telemarketer

– Driver

– Travel Agent

– Retail Sales Personnel

– Journalist

– Stock Trader

– Language Translator

– And more…

20 Jobs AI Cannot Kill:

– Health Care Social Workers

– Psychologists

– Artists, Entertainers, Social Media Influencers

– Police Detectives

– Surgeons

– Mental Health Counselors

– And more…

AI and the New World Order:

The competition for AI supremacy between the US and China, both investing heavily in AI-focused funding, is shaping a new world order.

Strategic plans, quantum AI, generative AI models, and advancements in various technologies are influencing this dynamic landscape.

Career Path for AI Experts:

AI experts can earn up to $300,000 per year. The World Economic Forum predicts that AI will create 97 million new jobs by 2030. Key skills include Algorithms, Python Programming, Data Processing, Deep Learning, and TensorFlow.

Leveraging AI for Transformation in Africa/Nigeria:

To harness the potential of AI for positive transformation, Mr. Akano proposes strategic actions:

– Establish an AI National Strategic Plan

– Set up venture capital ecosystems exclusively for AI products

– Implement universal salaries to counteract job displacement

– Create AI-focused funds for research and development

– Set up AI universities and hubs across educational institutions

– Offer subsidies for African researchers and corporations in AI

– Patronize made-in-Africa AI products and services

Conclusion:

As AI shapes the future, Africa and Nigeria must strategically position themselves to avoid the pitfalls of AI colonialism.

A call to action includes setting up national plans, fostering indigenous innovation, and creating an ecosystem that prioritizes AI education, research, and development.

The post AI in Africa: Challenges, Prospects, and the Imperative for Strategic Action appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

At a well-attended NACOS annual conference that took place at Nile University on the 11th of October 2023, NACOS leadership described Mr. Akano as one of the “major pillars in the ICT transformation in Nigeria, especially with regards to the Youth empowerment and Jobs creation”.

NACOS President, Comr. Chihurumnanya Nwanevu appreciated the New Horizons CEO for his pioneering role in integrating ICT certification-based training into the university academic curriculum about 18 years ago. This decision has changed the Technology Map of Nigeria forever”. The New Horizons initiative that empowers over 100,000 youths across Nigeria universities was described by NACOS President as “incredibly rewarding, and a game changer for the youths”.

Mr Tim Akano is equally commended for setting up One Africa Initiatives Academy, a Pan Africa NGO focusing on building the generation of African leaders that will rebuild Africa OAI Academy focuses on upgrading the skills of African Youths in four areas: Entrepreneurship, Technology, Leadership, and Good Citizenship.

One Africa Initiatives Academy consists of over 10,000 youths from 50 African countries. Members of the Academy have opportunities to attend free Masterclasses organized by OAI once a month online.

New Horizons Nigeria is a franchise of New Horizons International, the World’s largest ICT training organization with offices in 90 countries. New Horizons Nigeria trains over 100,000 students yearly from different universities, and schools and also trains more students in Technical courses in more locations than any training companies in Nigeria.

In the last 15 years, Mr Tim Akano has been awarded over 150 national, continental, and international awards for his relentless roles in Youth empowerment and the digital economy and the promotion of technology skills. Mr Akano has been honored by the Federal government of Nigeria through the NYSC three times in the past three years.

In his response, Mr Tim Akano appreciated the current NACOS leadership for a well-organized and attended event.

He said:

“I truly appreciate NACOS for this special recognition given to me in appreciation of the multidimensional roles being played by New Horizons and OAI Academy in the areas of entrepreneurship, technology, and empowerment. I pledge to continue to be available to lift not only the Nigeria youths but youths across Africa”

At the close of the event, Mr Akano pledged to empower the entire 300,000 NACOS students in any of the seven hottest 4.0 skills at a most discounted price.

In conclusion, Akano advised the youths that since India dominates the software space, South Korea dominates the electronics, and Israel dominates the Cyber security space while America and China dominate the Platform Economy, “It is my ambition to get Africa youths to dominate the 4.0 Technology space, so that in the next five years, the best Artificial intelligence Engineer, greatest DevOps engineer, best Data Scientists will all be Africans, but not only Africans but the youths I have mentored”.

The post Tim Akano named NACOS’ National Digital Economy Champion appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

Prof. Mebine presented the award to Akano at the National Mathematical Centre in Kwali, Abuja recently where the New Horizons boss delivered a paper titled “The Importance of Mathematics in Solving Socio-Economic and Technological Challenges” recently.

He challenged the National Mathematical and Science Students to apply their mathematical skills in solving Nigerian problems, saying globally, mathematicians have been deeply involved in solving national problems, from the time of Egyptians who built the pyramid, and believes that mathematics is essential for solving the challenges of our time.

“We need to make sure that all students have access to high-quality mathematics education, regardless of their background, and to support the development of new mathematics curricula that are relevant to the challenges of the 21st century,” he said.

The second award presented by the Students Union President of OAU, Olayiwola Folahan, held during a ceremony at the OAU Oduduwa Hall recently, where Mr. Akano delivered a paper titled “Harnessing the Power of Technology for Positive Change.”

The event attended by students, faculty members, and representatives of various tech organizations in Nigeria, saw Akano express his appreciation for the honour of being recognized for his commitment to empowering young Nigerians with technology skills through training and mentorship programmes.

Appreciating the recognition, Akano remarked that he had received over 150 recognitions, but he cherished the award from OAU students so much as it came from his Alma Mater. He used the opportunity to donate N150 million worth of scholarships to 1,000 OAU students to get trained in robotics and drones technology.

In addition, Mr. Tim Akano instituted the Great Tech Innovators, an event with the objective of producing the next Elon Musk, Larry Page, and Mark Zuckerberg through training in technology, leadership and entrepreneurship which will hold twice a year to showcase students’ innovations and matching them with interested angel investors.

He used the opportunity to appeal to wealthy Nigerians and Africans to rally round the Great Tech Innovators project, either as online mentors or angel iinvestors’ or both. The event is expected to serve as a testament to the invaluable contributions of Akano and New Horizons to the growth of technology education in Nigeria.

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