By Fumilayo Bayo
The Uniben TechWave on Thursday, August 28, 2025, hosts a tech conference at the Festus Iyayi Hall, bringing together innovators, tech leaders, and students under the theme, “Skills to Cashflow.”
The event, which began at 10:29 a.m., featured keynote addresses, panel discussions, and interactive sessions, which was designed to equip participants with strategies for turning skills into sustainable income.
Dr. Jennifer Jude, an alumnus of the University of Benin and Lead at She Code Africa Benin, opened the speaking sessions with a presentation on “Breaking Limits, Skills, Tech and Opportunities”. She identified fear, gender inequality, and migration as barriers to growth and emphasised the power of volunteering, networking, and community engagement.
“Your network is equal to your net worth,” she advised, encouraging students to consistently showcase their skills on platforms such as LinkedIn.
Mr. Izoduwa Precious Asemota, Head of Innovation Hubs Strengthening and another UNIBEN alumnus, spoke on passion-driven success. He shared his personal journey of transforming passion into financial rewards and urged students to pursue what they love with determination.
Speaking on “Side Hustle to Paycheck,” Mr. Ibrahim Odion, founder of Pneuma Career Hub, stressed the importance of value creation over the pursuit of money.
“Don’t chase money, chase value. When you build value, money will find you,” he told participants, illustrating his point with an interactive demonstration.
Mr. Isidahomen Isiramen, Chief Community Lead of Tech Wave Communication, explained the vision of the program, noting that many skilled individuals lack platforms for expression. He said the initiative seeks to bridge that gap by exposing participants to opportunities that match their abilities.
The panel session featured industry voices including Simon Feyisayo (CEO, Revolution Technologies), Isaiah Miracle (Founder, Kovar Creatives), Light Orukpa Diamonds (Founder, Cybersphere), Joy Akara (Personal Development Advocate), Unity Ekeoba (Founder, Talent), and Jeremiah Odianosa (Director, The Catalysts Initiative).
Panellists shared insights on starting small, avoiding career pitfalls, leveraging communities, and embracing consistency. “You need to have experience before you can be experienced,” Feyisayo remarked, cautioning against overextending in business.
The creative dimension of the event was highlighted by Miss Chidima Blessing, a 100-level student of English and Literature, who performed a spoken-word piece titled “The Click That Changes the World.” Her performance underscored the transformative role of technology in shaping today’s workforce.
Participants also had the opportunity to share expectations and reflections. While many expressed eagerness to learn new skills, students like Nicholas Shade, a 400-level Science Laboratory Technology student, emphasized the desire to deepen their knowledge of tech for personal growth.
Special addresses were delivered by Miss Faith Samson, founder of Youniserve Digital Solutions, and Miss Uwagie Jennifer, who spoke about the Tech Care Initiative. In his closing remarks, co-convener Mr. Winner encouraged students to prioritize visibility and credibility in their career pursuits.
The event was supported by partners, including the Association of Campus Journalists, University of Benin, Interswitch (Quickteller), Swift Haison, and others. It concluded with a giveaway segment where participants won cash prizes, T-shirts, pens, jotters, water bottles, and bags.