Mr. Hanson Johnson, the Chief Executive Officer of Start Innovation Hub (SIH), has spoken out against the unjust labeling of young tech talents as criminals by security agencies. He expressed his concerns on Monday in Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom State, where he criticized the frequent harassment and wrongful arrests of young tech-savvy individuals by security operatives.
Johnson, referring to these young professionals as “Tech Bros” and “Tech Sis,” described the situation as a case of “mistaken identity.” He highlighted the troubling trend where young people involved in the tech industry are often mistaken for criminals, simply because of their success and the lifestyle that comes with it.
According to Johnson, society and many security agencies have failed to recognize the legitimate work that these young tech talents are doing. He lamented that their hard-earned success is frequently viewed with suspicion, leading to harassment and, in some cases, unjust treatment.
“Before now, wealth was seen as something you attain only after a certain age. Today, information is everywhere, and young people are using it to improve their lives,” Johnson said. He emphasized that the world has changed, and young people are now able to achieve success much earlier than in the past, thanks to the vast amount of information available to them.
He also criticized the methods used by security agencies to identify criminals, arguing that there are more intelligent ways to carry out such tasks. “You don’t have to harass someone, jail them, and then later apologize, saying, ‘Oh, sorry, we thought you were this kind of person,’” he said. Johnson pointed out that even when these young professionals have proven their innocence beyond any reasonable doubt, they are still subjected to harassment and extortion.
Johnson stressed the need for proper education and training for security personnel on how to conduct their duties based on intelligence rather than mere suspicion. He noted that while a few bad individuals might misuse their access to technology, this is no reason to label all tech-savvy youths as criminals. “Security personnel should be able to distinguish between those who are genuinely contributing to the tech industry and those who are not,” Johnson asserted.
He called for education not only for the young people involved in the tech industry but also for the security operatives who interact with them. Johnson believes that this approach would help to resolve the ongoing issue of wrongful labeling and harassment of young tech talents.
Johnson also revealed that Start Innovation Hub (SIH) has partnered with international organizations, the Federal Government, and other corporate entities to provide tech-related training for young Nigerians. Some of these partnerships include the Innovation Development and Effectiveness in the Acquisition of Skills (IDEAS) project and the 3 Million Technical Talent Program (3MTT).
These initiatives, according to Johnson, aim to equip young Nigerians with the necessary skills to thrive in the tech industry, thereby contributing positively to the economy and society at large. He emphasized the importance of recognizing and supporting the legitimate efforts of young tech talents, rather than labeling them as criminals based on unfounded suspicions.
