Warri in the Digital Age: Will Our Youths Thrive or Be Left Behind?

Imagine this. Two young men, same age, same ambition.

One lives in Lagos. He wakes up, logs into his laptop, and joins a Zoom class on coding. Later that day, he lands a remote gig with a tech company in the U.S., earning in dollars.

The other lives in Warri. He wakes up to a blackout. No internet, no laptop, no training programs. He spends the day searching for fuel for his generator just to charge his phone. The world is moving at the speed of light, but he is stuck in slow motion.

Same talent. Same hunger. Different opportunities.

This is the silent divide that is crippling Warri's future. While the world embraces digital transformation, many of Warri's youth, mothers, and children are being left behind.

The digital age is not coming - it is here. The question is: Will Warri rise to the occasion, or will it remain in the shadows?

The Fear of Being Left Behind in the Digital Revolution

Take Blessing, a young woman from Ekurede Itsekiri. She dreams of becoming a tech entrepreneur, but the odds are against her.

Internet is slow and expensive - she struggles to complete online courses.

Electricity is unreliable - how can she build anything when power goes off every two hours?

No tech hubs, no mentorship, no support - she is like a fish trying to swim in the desert.

Now, compare her to Ifeanyi in Abuja, who has 24/7 internet, stable power, and access to tech hubs where he can meet investors.

The difference? Access to infrastructure.

This is not just a technology issue. It is an economic survival issue. The world is shifting to a digital economy, and those who cannot adapt will be left behind - not because they lack intelligence, but because they lack access.

Why Warri is Struggling to Catch Up

1. Poor Internet Access is Killing Digital Dreams

Internet in Warri is like a stubborn generator - it works when it wants to. Many areas suffer from slow, expensive, and unreliable connections, making remote work and online education difficult.

2. Unstable Power Supply is a Digital Nightmare

Tech thrives on electricity, but Warri is still battling power issues. How do we expect young people to build digital skills when their laptops are dead half the time?

3. Lack of Tech Hubs and Training Centers

In Lagos, tech hubs are springing up like palm trees, providing free training and mentorship. But in Warri, young people are hungry for knowledge with nowhere to feed their curiosity.

4. Mothers and Children Are Also Left Out

It's not just the youth who suffer. Warri's mothers - many of whom run small businesses - struggle to digitize their operations. Children in public schools have never seen a real computer, yet they are expected to compete in a digital world.

5. No Investment in Digital Infrastructure

Tech doesn't grow in isolation. It needs funding, training, and infrastructure. Without these, Warri's youths will remain consumers, not creators in the digital economy.

How Warri Can Become a Digital Powerhouse

This is where leadership must step up. The Warri South Local Government Chairman has the power to transform the city into a tech hub - not in 10 years, but right now.

Here's how.

1. Invest in Digital Infrastructure: The Foundation for a Tech Revolution

Public Wi-Fi Zones: Set up free Wi-Fi spots in key locations like Effurun Roundabout, Igbudu Market, and schools to ensure easy internet access.

Stable Electricity for Tech Hubs: Partner with energy companies to provide dedicated power grids for technology and business districts.

Affordable Internet for Warri: Work with telecom providers to negotiate better internet pricing for Warri residents.

2. Establish Tech Hubs to Train and Mentor Young Minds

Tech hubs are the new oil wells. Lagos, Abuja, and even Enugu have them - why not Warri?

The government should build at least two innovation hubs where youths can access free coding classes, business incubators, and startup funding.

Tech hubs should also support women and mothers in learning e-commerce, digital marketing, and fintech to grow their businesses.

3. Introduce ICT Training in Schools to Prepare the Next Generation

It is unacceptable that many children in Warri's public schools have never used a computer.

The government must equip schools with computers and introduce mandatory digital literacy courses from primary school.

Tech skills should be as important as English and Mathematics.

4. Support Digital Entrepreneurship: Turning Ideas into Income

Many youths in Warri have ideas, but no capital and no investors.

The government should create a Digital Innovation Fund to provide small grants and loans for young entrepreneurs in tech.

There should also be tech competitions and hackathons where the best ideas get funding and mentorship.

5. Partner with Tech Companies for Employment Opportunities

Warri does not need to re-invent the wheel. Google, Microsoft, Andela, and Paystack are already training young Africans in tech.

The local government should partner with these companies to bring training programs, internships, and remote job opportunities to Warri.

How the Warri South Local Government Chairman Can Drive Change

If Warri is going to compete in the digital age, leadership must act boldly. Here are five key ways the Warri South Local Government Chairman can lead the charge.

1. Create the Warri Digital Transformation Plan (WDTP)

This plan should outline a 5-year strategy to bring Warri up to speed with global technology trends.

It must include investments in internet access, tech education, and startup incubation.

2. Set Up a Warri Digital Council

This council should bring together tech experts, investors, and youth leaders to create policies that drive digital growth.

The council should also advise the government on emerging tech opportunities.

3. Establish a Digital Infrastructure Fund

This fund should support the creation of tech hubs, internet expansion, and electricity for tech districts.

It should be backed by both government and private sector investments.

4. Launch the Warri ICT Scholarship Program

The government should provide full scholarships for at least 1,000 students per year to learn digital skills like coding, cybersecurity, and data analytics.

Special focus should be given to women and students from low-income backgrounds.

5. Host an Annual Warri Tech Conference

This conference should bring together investors, entrepreneurs, and tech companies to showcase Warri's digital potential.

It should also include hackathons and startup pitch competitions where young innovators can win funding.

Warri's Future is Digital - The Time to Act is Now

The truth is simple: Warri's survival depends on how well it embraces the digital economy.

We cannot afford to wait. The world is moving fast, and technology is the new currency of wealth.

Every day we delay, more youths fall behind. More mothers struggle with outdated business models. More children graduate from schools unprepared for the modern world.

But Warri is not a city that accepts defeat. Warri is a city of warriors, hustlers, and innovators.

The question is: Will our leaders step up?

Warri South Local Government has the power to change the narrative. The time for talk is over. The time for action is now.

The future is digital. The future is Warri.

The only question left is - who will lead the charge?

Omasanjuwa Ogharandukun

Writer/Blogger