Former Nigerian Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has challenged indigenes of Ikenne town to think big and position the community as a centre for artificial intelligence (AI) and cutting-edge technology in the next 10 and 50 years.
He said history has shown that big dreams can transform societies recalling how the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo was told free education was impossible by colonial authorities but proved it achievable.
Speaking in Ikenne at the 50th Ereke Day Anniversary Lecture Community Awards and Investiture of 2026 Ambassadors organised by the Ikenne Development Association (IDA) the ex-Nigerian Vice President said the next 50 years will be shaped by artificial intelligence and Ikenne can become a community in Africa that trains the best minds and develops the most transformative AI tools.
He proposed an Ikenne 2036 Plan – a 10-year development blueprint with clear priorities defined costs and measurable annual targets.
He also cited ValueJet airline saying if its owner Kunle Soname had said 10 years ago that people could fly from Ikenne to Abuja in the morning and return in the evening many would have doubted it but today it is a reality.
He noted that Ikenne already has a high density of small and medium enterprises per square metre without deliberate planning and could achieve much more with a focused vision on technology.
Osinbajo said the plan should aim to establish Ikenne’s reputation as a centre for AI-enabled education and training and for the development of artificial intelligence tools alongside the state’s existing curriculum.
He referenced Taiwan a small island about 81 miles from China which manufactures a substantial proportion of the world’s microchips to show that such feats depend on vision and determination not size.
To achieve this he proposed a programme incorporating STEAM – Science Technology Engineering Arts and Mathematics – with strong emphasis on AI literacy from primary school substantial robotics content AI-powered learning tools and well-equipped robotics laboratories.
He cited the example of a learning centre established in Maiduguri for children orphaned by insurgency who could not speak Hausa or English but within five years became proficient in technology robotics and English to demonstrate what is possible with opportunity and support.
Osinbajo stressed the need to train teachers as facilitators of AI-assisted learning and robotics instructors and to partner with Chinese schools with strong AI curricula while also developing a campus specialising in AI and advanced systems to solve problems in agriculture healthcare education and finance.
He however urged the community not to limit itself to small ambitions but to pursue what others have not yet dared to attempt adding that God has blessed Ikenne with the potential to achieve incredible things.
In his remark the President of Ikenne Development Association (IDA) Otunba Olufemi Allen described the event as remarkable in the history of Ikenne saying they were honoured to have the presence of Osinbajo.
He stated that Osinbajo’s participation at the event has added value to the occasion.
He however said IDA is committed towards promoting unity and preserving cultural heritage for generations yet unborn adding that IDA will continue to uphold the idea of its founding fathers.
Highlights of the event include presentation of community awards and Investiture of 2026 IDA Ambassadors and others.