Governor of Imo State Hope Uzodimma has empowered 15,000 youths with digital skills to make them self-reliant and create jobs.
About 5,000 youths had earlier been trained and empowered under an ambitious skill-up project that will involve the training and empowerment of 300,000 youths.
Apart from training the youths on digital literacy skills, they are exposed to acquire the 4th industrial revolution skills needed to align and fit into the evolving digital world.
The commissioner for information and strategy, Declan Emelumba in a statement explained that the project is part of the shared prosperity agenda of the Hope Uzodimma’s administration.
He said Imo is the first state in Nigeria to successfully equip the large number of young citizens with vital digital skills, thus getting them equipped and ready for today’s technology-driven world and economy.
According to him, the initiative to infuse Imo youths with digital skills is in line with the Imo Digital Economy Agenda (IDEA) 2022- 2026 so as to make the state the digital skills hub of Africa.
He said the project is also aimed at curbing the menace of unemployment and insecurity.
Emelumba disclosed that the project is also an investment by Governor Uzodimma to create a future for the youths to enable them achieve success like Elon Musk and Bill Gates.
The commissioner expressed satisfaction that the skills acquired by the 15,000 youths are in demand and top earning that will grant them financial freedom.
He listed the skills they were trained in to include digital marketing, Web and App Development, LAN Networking, Content Creation, Basic Data Analysis, Graphics Design, Programming, Cyber September, and Virtual Assistance among others.
Meanwhile, Governor Uzodimma has received ‘’TECH Governor of the Year’’ award from the Cohort 2 Skill-Up Imo Project graduates in appreciation of his initiatives for them.
The award was bestowed on him at the Government House, Owerri, Imo State when the graduating students of the second batch of Skill-up Project organised by the Ministry of Digital Economy and E-Government Imo State came on a solidarity visit.
