Image caption: Prof Adetunji
OGBOMOSO AT A CROSSROADS — A CALL TO THE YOUTH AND INVESTORS IN THE ERA OF AI
By Prof. Adeniyi Temitope ADETUNJI
Investor, Researcher, Consultant and Proud Son of Ogbomoso
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In the heart of Ogbomoso, a quiet crisis is unfolding. Not one of fire or famine, but one of fading values and misplaced ambition. As an investor and academic born in this great land, I am compelled to speak—not out of judgment, but out of deep concern and hope.
In 2018, when former President Muhammadu Buhari described Nigerian youth as “lazy,” many of us rose in anger. And rightly so. We knew the energy and potential of our young people. But today, in 2025, we must ask ourselves hard questions. What happened to integrity, apprenticeship, and hard work? Why are honest jobs being abandoned for quick money and shortcuts becoming the norm?
Our streets are filled with idle hands chasing “overnight wealth.” No one is learning a trade. Few are willing to serve. Employers are bleeding from internal sabotage—not from lack of profit, but from workers who steal, cheat, and undermine the very businesses that feed them. Many local entrepreneurs are now closing shop, not because of competition, but because trust has eroded.
This is not just a social issue. It is an economic pandemic—and it is spreading fast.
The AI Era: A Wake-Up Call, Not a Threat
We are living in the era of Artificial Intelligence. But AI is not the enemy. Ignorance is. Instead of fearing the machines, we must train our minds. The jobs of the future require skill, critical thinking, digital literacy, and reliability. The world is shifting fast, and if our youth do not unlearn, relearn, and learn anew, they will be left behind.
AI is not here to replace humans—it is here to augment value. But only those willing to embrace discipline, creativity, and lifelong learning will thrive.
A Broken System Needs a Human Solution
Many investors and employers across Ogbomoso now whisper the same fears: “We are losing more to our staff than to the market.” This is heartbreaking. Businesses built over decades are collapsing—not for lack of ideas—but from a culture that now glorifies fraud over faithfulness, shortcuts over service.
We must fix this, and fast.
It starts with honest conversations in our homes, schools, religious centers, and streets. We must bring back the pride of skill, the honor in service, and the mentorship mindset. Every successful businessperson in Ogbomoso must see themselves not just as an employer, but as a builder of people.
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Leadership Is Moving—Will the People Follow?
Our Kabiyesi, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, Orumogege III, is working tirelessly to attract investment into Ogbomoso. His strategic engagement across Nigeria’s 36 states and the diaspora is timely. By 2026, we could witness a rebirth in our economy, our image, and our industries.
But what good are investors if the soil is not ready?
We must prepare our youth and businesses to absorb, sustain, and multiply the opportunities coming. Our character must match our ambition.
A United Voice for a New Future
Ogbomoso must rise again—not just with buildings, but with values. I call on business owners, cooperatives, civil societies, educators, and tech hubs to come together. Let us train our youth, support apprenticeships, and create ethics-driven entrepreneurship programs.
Let us sanitize this societal pandemic—not with handwash, but with vision, discipline, and unity.
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This is not the time to retreat. It is the time to build. Together, we can steer Ogbomoso—and indeed Nigeria—back to its rightful path of dignity, innovation, and prosperity.
Let the history books say: In the era of AI, Ogbomoso rose—not by chance, but by choice.
Prof. Adeniyi Temitope Adetunji is a Professor of Organizational Behaviour and Quality Management, an investor, researcher, and consultant.
