Imo govt to empower 300,000 Imolites with digital skills, tools in three years
From Athan Agbakwuru Owerri
No fewer than 5,000 Imolites comprising youths, women, men and physically-challenged persons have been trained and equipped free of charge, by the Imo State Government under its recently launched ‘Skill-up Imo’ programme to kick-start the Hope Uzodimma administration’s policy to equip 300,000 citizens of the state with digital knowledge and skills.
Commissioner for Digital Economy and e-Government, Dr. Chimezie Amadi who dropped the hint Friday during an interactive session with selected journalists in his office, Owerri disclosed that no fewer than 40 physically challenged persons benefitted from the 1st phase of the training and empowerment scheme.
Amadi who harped on the vision of the present administration to tackle unemployment using alternative strategy and the imperative for Imo people to embrace the internet technology by acquiring digital skills and tools relevant for today’s business world.
The commissioner who revealed that beneficiaries of the first batch of of the training programme were equipped with digital skills and tools such as laptop computers, cash token of N100,000.00 only each as start-up incentive to enable them start on their own.
According to him, the graduands were, in addition, being linked to many tech companies and connected to various job oportunities within and outside the country just as some individuals among the trainees have started breaking grounds by developing apps, website creation, installation of cable television etc.
To achieve the 300,000 target of trainees in three years, Dr. Amadi stated that his ministry will train and equip 100,000 beneficiaries per year in line with the Imo Digital Economy Agenda, IDEA, compendium.
He appreciated the vision of Governor Uzodimma in creating the Ministry of Digital Economy and e-Government, which is the first of its kind in the state and the country pointing out that the initiative will assist tremendously in improving the unemployment rating of Imo in the comity of states.
His words, “For us(government) in Imo, we intend to equip our people young and old with skills and make them ready for the emerging trends in global economy and economic activities. What we expect from our graduands is to use the digital skills and tools to create wealth and address digital services.
“Youths in Imo State now have better opportunity to be players in the economic activities of the state, NIgeria and the globe. Before now digital skills are sourced from experts outside Imo because only few are in the state. But today the difference is clear because a lot of them now have started their own business while some are already into Web creation, Apps developments.”
Commenting on the benefits of the digital economy, Dr Amadi hinted that when the dream of digitization and e-government are fully actualized, revenue collection, ticketing, salary and pension payment will be automated.
