By Rita Enemuru, Reporting
A Professor of English at the University of Lagos, Professor Hope Eghagha, has described young Nigerians involved in internet fraud as “intelligent and brilliant”, urging them to channel their creativity and digital skills into legitimate ventures capable of making them billionaires.
Speaking during the Distinguished Scholar Lecture Series at Southern Delta University, Orerokpe Campus, on Thursday, Prof Eghagha said it takes a sharp and persuasive mind to convince victims to part with their retirement savings through online scams.
He said: “Our boys who are involved in internet fraud are intelligent and brilliant. It takes intelligence to persuade someone to send their retirement and hard-earned money through a romance scam.
Prof Eghagha and other dignitaries
“Imagine the heights they would reach if they channelled that intelligence into something positive. If you are involved in that profession, please consider how you can leave it and use that mind to achieve something legitimate. You can become a billionaire with that brain.”
Delivering a lecture titled Cultural Constellations and Intersections in Virtual Space, the don encouraged students to harness digital platforms for cultural promotion, entrepreneurship and national development rather than criminal enterprise.
He described smartphones as powerful assets capable of transforming lives if used productively.
“Students, that smartphone you have is an asset. You can use it to project yourselves into the world. You can create content,” he said.
Prof Eghagha
Prof Eghagha noted that some of his students at the University of Lagos have successfully paid their tuition fees through content creation, adding that the digital space has democratised access to knowledge and economic opportunities.
He urged students to promote indigenous culture globally by creating digital content around local traditions such as Udje dance and Urhobo cultural music.
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“The platforms used for nefarious activities can be used for positive impact. You can challenge the world with your smartphones through the content you create,” he added.
The scholar also called on governments to establish mentorship and training programmes to help young people leverage digital culture for sustainable development, stressing the need for a hybrid education model that integrates technology-driven learning.
Professor Johnbull Tonukari
In his remarks, the Delta State Commissioner for Higher Education, Professor Johnbull Tonukari, revealed that student enrolment across the nine state-owned tertiary institutions has risen from about 55,000 to slightly over 100,000.
He attributed the growth to the educational reforms introduced by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.
Section of the participants at the lecture
According to him, the state government has earmarked over N100 billion for higher education to strengthen infrastructure, expand access and improve quality across the institutions.
He further disclosed that nearly 1,000 academic and non-academic staff have been recruited to support the expansion.
The Orodje of Okpe kingdom and his chiefs
Dignitaries at the event included the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Arthur Efeoghene Essaghah; the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom and his chiefs; deans; members of the administration; and students of Southern Delta University.
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