By Rhoda Godwin, Yenagoa

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has urged entrepreneurs and young people in the state to embrace artificial intelligence (AI), modern technology and innovation to accelerate economic growth and position Bayelsa for greater competitiveness.

Diri made the call during the inauguration of Ayala Hotel, where he commended Chief Robert Ayala Enogha, Group Chairman of Emili Oil and Gas, for investing in the hospitality sector and demonstrating the potential of private enterprise to drive development in the state.

The governor said Bayelsa could not afford to lag behind in technological advancement, stressing that the state must take deliberate steps to prepare its people and businesses for changes in the global economy.

“As a state, we cannot go and lag behind. We must key in, even in the hospitality business,” Diri said.

He noted that the inauguration of the hotel came a day after an event focused on the oil and gas industry, describing the two occasions as evidence of the gradual expansion of business activities in Bayelsa.

“Yesterday was oil and gas, with the former President of Nigeria as the key guest. Today, we are now looking at the hospitality side of business. So, who says Bayelsa is not growing? We are growing steadily,” he said.

Although the pace of development might not yet meet public expectations, the governor expressed confidence that the state would continue to make progress.

“It may not be the way we had expected to grow, but gradually we will get there,” he added.

Diri praised Ayala for his resilience and ability to identify business opportunities where others might see challenges, describing him as a model for young people aspiring to become entrepreneurs.

According to the governor, Bayelsans must move beyond dependence on traditional, subsistence economic activities and explore modern methods of production that can improve productivity and income.

He illustrated this point with a childhood experience involving a friend whose father criticised young people for being unable to climb palm trees and cut palm fronds.

The young man had responded that his generation would use machines to perform such tasks, a response that angered the elderly man at the time.

Diri said the incident reflected the changing attitudes and technologies shaping society, noting that the world had progressed beyond mechanisation to artificial intelligence.

“Now it is artificial intelligence. And as a state, we cannot go and lag behind,” he said.

He urged hospitality operators, including Ayala and other investors, to explore AI-powered systems that could improve service delivery, enhance customer experience and increase business efficiency.

The governor explained that some modern hospitality establishments now use automated systems to receive orders and deliver meals, with technology also assisting in clearing tables and handling routine tasks.

He said Bayelsa businesses must understand these developments and prepare to adopt relevant innovations to remain competitive.

Diri also emphasised the need to train young people to acquire technological skills that would enable them to participate in emerging industries.

Earlier, Ayala said the development of the hotel demonstrated the capacity of local entrepreneurs and workers to deliver major projects when provided with the right conditions.

He disclosed that the project was completed within eight months, from excavation and foundation laying to completion.

According to him, local contractors, labourers and building materials were used for the project, with elevators imported from China.

Ayala commended the state government for improvements in security and the business environment, while calling for policies that would encourage indigenous entrepreneurs and strengthen private-sector investment.

He said a reliable power supply remained critical to business sustainability, recalling that diesel expenses had previously consumed a significant portion of his hotel’s working capital.

The inauguration highlighted the role of private investment, local participation, infrastructure and technological innovation in expanding Bayelsa’s economy.