A UK-based technology expert, Mr. Gabriel Iruaga, has called on the Nigerian government to embed technological education into school curricula as a means of driving digital literacy and preparing young people for the future workforce.

Iruaga, who is the founder of Embold Lab and CEO of Rendcore Technology, made the appeal during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Wednesday.

He argued that introducing digital learning from nursery and primary levels would channel children’s natural curiosity into meaningful skills, while secondary school students could transition into building real-world projects.

“When I think about integrating tech into Nigerian schools, I picture a six-year-old child curious about her mother’s phone. Instead of scolding her, imagine a classroom where that same curiosity is guided into learning safe internet use, storytelling apps, or even simple logic games,” he explained.

At the tertiary level, Iruaga emphasized the need for courses such as data analytics, product design, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence to be complemented with mentorship and internships. This, he said, would ensure graduates leave school with practical skills relevant to the global job market.

“Too many people see tech as a lottery ticket. The truth is, tech is not magic; it is a tool. It is the ability for someone in Maiduguri to design logos for clients in Abuja, or a farmer in Kaduna to market produce online, or a graduate in Lagos to analyse data for a Canadian firm, all without leaving their hometown,” he noted.

Since its establishment in 2023, Embold Lab has trained over 10,000 young Nigerians through boot camps, live workshops, and mentorship programmes. According to Iruaga, 60 per cent of participants secured employment within six months of graduation, while 15 per cent launched their own businesses.

He further urged collaboration among government agencies, EdTech platforms, telecom providers, and international tech companies to expand access to digital education nationwide.

“Think of what could happen if every state government partnered with platforms like Embold Lab, ALX, Andela, and Decagon,” he said. “Telecom companies could offer zero-rated data access for learning, while global players like Google, Microsoft, and Meta could set up innovation hubs in our universities.”

Iruaga stressed that bridging Nigeria’s digital divide would require deliberate investments in mentorship, infrastructure, and strong public-private partnerships to raise a generation of tech-savvy innovators.