As a poor parent in Nigeria, yes, my emphasis is on "poor" parents, get your kids actively involved in STEM, AI, and community service at a younger age.
It is not just a nice thing to do, it is one of the most practical long term investments you can make for your child.
Because the truth is, we may not have money, connections, or access, but we can give our children exposure. And in today’s world, exposure can change everything.
When a child starts early, they begin to see life differently. They don’t just grow up thinking “what job will I find?” they start thinking “what can I do, what can I build, how can I solve problems?”
That shift alone is powerful.
For STEM and AI, you don’t need to overthink it or wait until you can afford expensive schools. There are free tutorials everywhere. A child with a phone and data can learn from YouTube, follow structured lessons on Khan Academy, or even pick up coding and digital skills through freeCodeCamp. Platforms like Coursera also have beginner courses they can access.
There are also opportunities closer to home than we think. Programs like Google Digital Skills for Africa and Ingressive for Good support young Africans with training and sometimes scholarships. Many schools now have ICT teachers, and there are small tech hubs in different parts of Nigeria that children can plug into if you ask questions.
Let them start small. Let them understand computers, learn how to type properly, use Excel, explore the internet beyond just social media. Even if it is just a few hours every week, it adds up over time.
Now, beyond skills, community service is something many people ignore, but it builds something money cannot buy.
It builds character.
A child who learns to show up for others, to contribute, to take responsibility, grows differently. They become confident, they become aware, they learn how to relate with people.
And the good thing is, this does not require money.
Your child can start from where they are. They can join sanitation exercises in your area, help clean markets or their street, assist elderly people around them, volunteer in church or mosque activities, or even teach other children what they already know.
If nothing exists around you, they can start something small. It could be as simple as setting one day in a week or month to clean their environment or help people around them.
You can also plug them into existing groups. Organizations like Rotary International have Interact clubs for teenagers, and as they grow, they can join Rotaract. Programs like Junior Achievement Nigeria help young people learn business, leadership, and financial skills early. Even school clubs, debate groups, press clubs, and youth groups in religious centres are powerful spaces if the child is actively involved.
Now here is something many parents don’t know.
There are opportunities every year looking for children and teenagers who are doing something meaningful.
Some of these opportunities provide funding, some offer scholarships, some open doors to travel and meet people from different countries, and some even create pathways into top universities abroad.
And the children who benefit from these are not always the richest.
They are the ones who have something to show.
A child who has been learning skills, volunteering, participating in communities, and taking initiative stands out anywhere. These are the kind of children that get noticed, get recommended, and get accepted into top schools like Harvard University, Stanford University, and many other prestigious universities.
Not because their parents had money, but because they built value over time.
And this is where many parents miss it.
As your child is learning, building, and serving, document it.
Take pictures. Record videos. Let them explain what they are doing while you film them. Let them talk about what they learned, what challenged them, what they enjoyed.
It may feel small now, but one day, those pictures and videos become proof.
When they are applying for scholarships, competitions, or programs, they won’t just be saying “I am passionate” or “I have experience”.
They will have something to show.
They will have evidence of consistency, growth, and impact.
In a world where many people are only talking, your child will be showing.
This is not something that happens overnight. It is something you build gradually. Week by week, month by month, year by year.
But the result is clear.
You are raising a child who is not just surviving, but prepared. A child who can compete anywhere in the world. A child who has options.
You may not be able to give your child everything, but if you can give them exposure, direction, consistency, and the habit of showing their journey, you have already given them something powerful.
And one day, they will look back and realize that those small things you pushed them to do were actually what changed their life.
