Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma has said the SkillUp Imo Programme is helping young people in the state acquire digital and professional skills needed to compete in the global economy.
The governor spoke while hosting the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard M. Doro, who visited Imo State on an official assignment.
Uzodimma said the state government established a Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs as part of efforts to align with programmes introduced by the Federal Government through the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs. He noted that the move was aimed at promoting economic growth and sustainable development in the state.
According to the governor, the SkillUp Imo Programme has become one of the key achievements of the administration’s skills development efforts. He said the initiative has trained and empowered many young people through various capacity-building programmes.
He explained that beneficiaries of the programme are gaining skills that can help them compete in the international digital economy and other sectors of the global workforce.
Uzodimma also acknowledged the support provided by the Federal Government, stating that it has played an important role in implementing the programme and other development initiatives in the state.
The governor added that his administration remains committed to strengthening residents’ skills and abilities to meet growing global demands while encouraging more people to take advantage of available opportunities.
Other digital initiatives by the Uzodimma administration include the Founder Dojo Initiative and the Imo Digital City, a tech hub that serves as a physical space for Imo State’s tech ecosystem.
Uzodimma hopes to upskill 20,000 Imo youths with globally standard digital skills, preparing them for the international job market. This is an indirect investment in Imo State’s local economy, capable of increasing the state’s GDP by more than 50%.
The current state administration has partnered with foreign universities, such as UC Berkeley, on its digital inclusion mission. Imo state has a very high young demographic, courtesy of the seven higher institutions in the state.
This makes the state a very fertile ground for progressive initiatives like tech incubation and startups in strategic fields of endeavour.
