By Jide Awe
“I didn’t organize those tech career seminars because I had all the answers.
I did it because no one else was answering.
The hunger was incredible.”
Over the years, I’ve met brilliant young Nigerians eager to know where to start, what to learn, who to learn from.
The truth? Most institutions weren’t listening.
At those seminars, we discussed skills, jobs, and trends — but beneath it all was a deeper question:
Will our system believe in and invest in our youth?
That’s why the upcoming Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) election matters.
It’s not just about filling positions.
It’s about choosing leaders who can unlock the talent we keep talking about — and move from talk to action.
WHY IT MATTERS NOW
Nigeria has Africa’s largest youth population.
A generation born into cloud computing, AI, robotics, and the gig economy.
Yet too many are:
- Teaching themselves on with inadequate tools.
- Dropping out of outdated programmes.
- Giving up — not from lack of effort, but from lack of access.
- Lack knowledge about the opportunities, direction and guidance
Our best tech talent is leaving.
What we risk losing is more than people — it’s about our digital sovereignty.
THE ROLE NCS MUST PLAY
I’m a registered NCS member, a fellow of the society and a confirmed participant at this year’s Conference and AGM where the elections will take place.
I’ve contested before — won some, lost some — and served on the National Executive Council in different capacities for years. I’m not writing just as an observer.
NCS should be more than an association. It can and must be a national backbone for computing development and digital transformation.
But that depends on the leaders we choose.
We need leaders who will:
- Champion curriculum reform at all education levels.
- Create inclusive platforms for real access to skills, tools, infrastructure, support, and opportunity.
- Build mentorship programs linking students to industry.
- Partner with the private sector for innovation funding and internships.
- Bring more youth and women into the profession and leadership roles.
- Advocate for policies that protect Nigeria’s digital interests in a fast moving global tech market and space.
“Business as usual” will not create a better, sustainable digital future.
WHO CAN VOTE
Under Article 6.3 of the NCS Constitution, eligible voters must:
- Be a Professional (Fellow, Member, Associate, Graduate) or Corporate Member.
- Have been formally inducted as a Professional Member.
- Be financially up to date.
- Be registered for the Conference (physical or virtual).
If that’s you, this is your moment.
If you can’t vote, talk to NCS members you know. Influence matters.
This is too important to ignore. Young professionals in particular should note that you cannot reshape the system from the sidelines. Which progress are we really making if all we do is criticise, ignore or complain?
CHARACTER OVER PERFECTION — FOR THE NEXT GENERATION
No candidate is perfect. I certainly wasn’t when I first served.
I had to learn, adapt, and grow.
What matters is sincerity, commitment, creativity, and a purpose-driven approach.
Key qualities to look for:
- Vision – A clear plan for Nigeria’s digital future.
- Competence – Ability to solve problems and adapt.
- Collaboration – Works well with others.
- Empathy – Supports members, especially youth.
- Altruism – Uses power to empower others.
As Toni Morrison said:
“If you are free, you need to free somebody else.
If you have some power, then your job is to empower somebody else.”
A CALL FOR COURAGE AND VISION
Elections don’t just choose office holders.
They choose whether we get builders or seat warmers, whether we get arrogant and self serving tyrants or emotionally intelligent leaders.
The destiny of Nigeria’s youth is not guaranteed.
It will be shaped by the leaders we choose now.
This NCS election is about relevance, not routine.
Let’s choose leaders who will open doors — for the young developer coding in unsustainable conditions, the student eager for mentorship, the intern who lacks access and the innovator deciding whether to stay in Nigeria or leave.
Let’s make this vote count — for our youth, and our digital future.
By Jide Awe is an Inaugural Tech Mentor of the Year and founder of Jidaw.com