The UN 75th Anniversary Speech: Will People In 2045 Be Better Off, Same Or Worse Than Today? -Tony Adokiye Ekine

This was presented by Tony Adokiye Ekine

Good day to all distinguished Executive Members, Participants across the world and Officials of the United Nations, as we mark the 75th Anniversary of the UN.
I am Tony Adokiye Ekine and I bring you greetings from Nigeria.

In an attempt to respond to the quiz: Will people in 2045 be better off than, worse off than, or about the same as today?
I have this little contribution to make as I lend my voice to a crucial global challenge, staring us in the face.

Little did our predecessor’s know-how using coal and steam to power machines would transform human life and revolutionize the world.
Now, about two centuries later, we similarly stand on the brink of another revolution whose future impacts are hard to grasp. Computing, the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) already begun introducing a new era of possibilities in every single aspect of our lives, but they only reveal the tip of the iceberg of how the world will be like in the future. This future we are predicting is about 25years from now.

One common misconception about the future is that machines and robots will take over human jobs and endanger the livelihoods of people. Yes, technology will eliminate jobs that are considered mundane and labour-intensive but will also create opportunities that we are not even familiar with.

I strongly believe that, in the future, technology is the primary job generator and I predict that ‘Generation Alpha’ (people born after 2010), will occupy jobs framed around “common technologies like drones, robots, and blockchain as opposed to professional categorizations like nurses, teachers, or engineers”. PEOPLE IN 2045 will definitely be better off than those in ‘our today’!

Let me quickly take us on a ride into the future with its recent report predicting the most common jobs in 2045. So buckle up!

AI and Deep Learning Researchers are already developing and testing “smart robots” that can potentially fulfil tasks only humans can so far accomplish. But in 2045, smart robots will require experts to optimize their performance, such as Robot maintenance, monitoring, programmers, supplier, operation techs, business developers, and UI/UX experts.

Automated Vehicles (AVs): I predict that more self-driven cars will flood the world. Humans with AV knowledge will be in high demand for positions like command centre operators, payment and accounting department, circulation engineers, maintenance and repair, cleaning crew, traffic flow analyzers, charging station installers, and onboard experience designers.

IOT
Internet of Things. There will be smart homes, smart humans, smart cars and the likes, all over the place.

Cybernetics, Cyberculture and Cyber Crime:
In terms of crime and criminality, I think people will be worse off. More people will use innovations in technology for manipulative purposes.

Education
I foresee, the year 2045 as the year where Global focus will be on STEM Education as the way to go: Where SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING and MATHEMATICS will majorly drive every other Sector. Only, recently, due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Education Sector was exposed. In trying to deploy remote learning via virtual classes, many Nations were faced with some stark reality which includes: 1. A high percentage of teachers who are not tech-savvy. 2. Very low participation of pupils/students due access to the internet. 3. General Ignorance and disinterest. 4. Poverty.

Religion

Just last night, I attended an International Religious Convention that held strictly Online for the first time. I foresee much more of these in the next couple of decades to come. Guest Ministers will hardly be flown around where they can be viewed live from the online platforms. With this, We can conserve more of time, funds, energy and other resources.

Now, here’s my simple counsel to Mr António Guterres, the UN SEC GEN, in addressing these Challenges:
1. Hence, Nations of the world are not all at equal status, regarding Education, Health, Finance, Science, Technology and Infrastructure, programs should be designed and implemented to attempt to scale up the countries at the low ends of the ladder.

2. More and more awareness should be made on the gap between the present and our desired global future. This will sort of help to challenge leaders and their followers to aspire onto unfolding the future of their imagination.

3. Finally, Education is KEY:
K – Keep
E – Educating
Y – Yourself

Thank you

– Tony ADOKIYE Ekine