Imo State to Partner Tech Giants on Second Phase SkillUpImo Project

Emma Okonji

Following the successful graduation of 5,000 youths in Cohort 1 of Imo State’s youth digital empowerment and employment scheme dubbed: SkillUpImo Project, the state governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, is set to commence the second segment of the digital skills acquisition programme.

This is just as the state government is considering partnership with technology companies such as Cisco, Hauwei and Microsoft as well as the National Business and Technical Examination Board (NABTEB) for certification and value optimisation of the programme.

The continuation of the programme with the Cohort 2 is in keeping with the vision of making Imo State the leading digital economy hub of the nation and having delivered on the promises made on the flag-off of the first leg of the SkillUpImo Project under the direct implementation purview of the state’s Ministry of Digital Economy and E-Government.

The state governor places high premium on the SkillUpImo project due to its potential of achieving the triple objectives of positioning Imo State as the digital skills hub of Africa, tackling youth unemployment as well as diversifying and building the state’s digital economy.

Already in the Cohort 2, 15,000 Imolites are now jostling for 10,000 slots at the ongoing enrolment, a reflection of the realisation of the success of the Cohort 1 training programme, which have produced graduands, who are already monetising their skills as techpreneurs while others have been linked to various employment opportunities.

Speaking in an interview, the Commissioner for Digital Economy and E-Government, Dr. Chimezie Amadi, confirmed that pre-admission assessment has been conducted for over 15, 000 prospective trainees who registered for the Digital skills training, which he said was oversubscribed.