Federal, Imo Agencies To Equip Youths With Digital Skills

The federal government has expressed readiness to collaborate with the Imo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (ISOPADEC) to provide youths in the state with skills through vocational training and employment opportunities.

The director-general of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Otunba Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, represented by Engr. Abdulmalik Onuwe Saka and the director-general of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Silas Agara, made the pledge during a one-day youth summit organised by ISOPADEC to mark the 2026 International Youth Day, held in Owerri.

He said the agency was willing to collaborate with ISOPADEC to improve the people, including the youth, by equipping them with skills and creating employment opportunities.

The host and managing director of ISOPADEC, Chief Austin Onyedebelu, hailed the chief executive officers and the federal agencies that attended the summit, describing their presence as a demonstration of commitment to youth development.

The summit, with the theme “Empowering Youths for Sustainable Development: Innovate, Lead and Transform,” brought together youths from oil-producing communities across Imo State, government officials, representatives of federal government agencies, development partners, and traditional and community leaders.

Onyedebelu said youth development remained a strategic priority of the commission, adding that the greatest resource of any society is its human capital.

The ISOPADEC boss appealed to the United Nations (UN) and other agencies to support youths in developing digital and entrepreneurial skills.

Onyedebelu said the collaboration should be strengthened to enhance youth employment, digital skills, climate resilience, healthcare, agricultural development, entrepreneurship grants, education, scholarships, leadership development and international exchange programmes.

The commissioner for Digital Economy and e-Governance, Dr Chimezie Amadi, urged the youth to take advantage of the Skill-Up Imo Programme to acquire digital skills, noting that they are increasingly important in the global economy.

Amadi said the agency was ready to partner with ISOPADEC to train youths in digital skills and equip them to establish businesses and capitalise on the opportunities in the digital economy.

The commissioner for Youth and Talent Hunt, Dr Emeka Mandela Ukaegbu, commended ISOPADEC for organising the summit and called on the youths to develop innovative and creative ideas that would contribute to the development of Imo State.