IMO STATE GOVT TRAINS 15,000 YOUTHS ON DIGITAL SKILLS
REPORTER: CHUKWUKA AGUKWE
Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, has called on the youths to take advantage of the skills made available to them to transform their lives.
He made the call during the graduation of 15,000 persons that participated in the “skillup Imo youths” at Dan Anyiam Stadium Owerri.
The graduants were trained in various digital skills, including cyber security, graphic design and programming.
Senator Uzodimma while addressing the youths said the skills would not only impact positively on their lives but by extension transform Imo State by becoming the most technologically advanced state in Africa.
Senator Uzodimma said he would not leave any stone unturned in his commitment to build a sustainable digital economy that would generate new jobs for the labour force and expand economic development for Imo people.
He promised to equip the participants with relevant tools to start up.
He also set a target to expose more than 300,000 persons of Imo State origin to digital ecosystem.
“Basic infrastructure is as important as educating our youths and equipping them with crucial skills to be able to succeed in life.
“This explains the sealing of fulfilment that I feel at this graduation ceremony on the second batch of youths who have been successful trained and equiped with literacy and enterprenuerer skills,” the Governor stated.
In his remarks, the Minister of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, admonished youths to take up the golden opportunity to shape their society effectively through Job creation.
“The world is faced with the shortage of technological talent, the world not only in Nigeria.
“This shortage, I want to remind you, is an opportunity for young Nigerians to fill the gap not only in Nigeria but globally,” Dr.Tijani said.
Earlier in a welcome address, the Imo State Commissioner for Digital Economy and E – Government, Mr. Chimezie Amadi emphasized that the programme was a youth oriented digital empowerment for Imo youths by the state government.
According to Amadi, the essence of the skills was to turn the youths from job seekers to digital entrepreneurs to improve their wellbeing.
“The skill up imo project it’s an idea incubated by his Excellency to position imo State as the digital hub of Africa and to also arrest youths unemployment while promoting the adoption of technology,” Mr. Amadi remarked.
Some of the participants shared their experiences among whom was a deaf and dump person.
The event attracted federal ministers from Labour Ministry and Science and Technology Ministry.
The highpoint was a presentation of laptop computer sets to each of the 15,000 participants.
EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU
