August 1, 2023

The Imo State Commissioner for Digital Economy and e-Government, Dr Chimezie Amadi, has been honoured with the prestigious “Leadership Excellence” Award at the 2023 edition of the Arise Africa Achievers Award. The Award was bestowed on Amadi in recognition of his outstanding leadership exploits as he leads the team responsibility for transforming the State’s economy into a fully-digitised one and drives the implementation of the SkillUpImo initiative, among other spin-off projects aimed at empowering the youths in the State with digital skills and tools. While conferring the award on Amadi recently in Owerri, attended by over 250 change makers, with thousands more online, the President, Arise Africa Network of Nigeria and publisher of Arise Africa Magazine, Mr Ikechukwu Anyanwu, said the award to Amadi was well deserved. According to Anyanwu, “In the world of business, great leaders are like beacons that guide their organizations towards success and growth. They possess an uncanny ability to inspire, motivate, and bring out the best in their teams and Dr Amadi stands as one of those beacons in the Imo State cabinet driving implementation of strategic youth-centric digital empowerment project.” He said the panel of assessors for the award adjudged Amadi as the recipient of the prestigious award, based on his “exceptional and exemplary leadership quality and outstanding performance as the commissioner for Imo State Ministry of Digital Economy and e-Government.” Anyanwu said the award was to celebrate Amadi’s unwavering commitment to empowering the youths through the SkillupImo programme and other initiatives of his ministry. “Through these digital skill empowerment project, the government, through the Ministry which Amadi supervises, is unlocking the potential of individuals, supporting their innovative ideas, and equipping them with skills to harness their talents and shape their destinies.” “We, therefore, congratulate Dr. Chimezie Amadi on this well-deserved award. We are filled with optimism for the future. We stand united in supporting his vision and look forward to witnessing the continued growth and positive impact of his ministry’s programmes on the lives of countless individuals in Imo state, as we stride forward, empowering lives and shaping a better, digitally-inclusive tomorrow,” concluded Anyanwu. Responding, the Commissioner appreciated the Management and Panel of Assessors at the Arise Africa Achievers Award for the recognition, stating that “I consider this recognition as a call to do greater service, a call to do more for the State in our journey to achieving the digital transformation agenda of our Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma.” “I consider myself lucky for being given the privilege by our Digital Governor to oversee the Ministry of Digital Economy & E-Government where we continue to make our modest efforts to actualise the agenda of His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma, the Digital Governor of Imo State,” he said. He dedicated the award to the dynamic members of staff at the Ministry, who he said, have continued to give him the necessary support, working tool and nail, towards advancing the course of digital empowerment of the youths for the overall economic transformation in the state. It would be recalled that, among other recognitions, Imo State was in May, 2023, ranked top (#Number 1) above all other states in the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in terms of digital innovation and entrepreneurship development in the country in the 2022 State of Entrepreneurship Index Report for Nigeria Report by the FATE Institute of the popular FATE Foundation. Now in its ninth year, Arise Achievers Award is an annual accolade event established to celebrate people, places and values that contribute towards significant impact on the African continent. It’s the largest annual gathering hosted to engage with young people of Africa and addresses the most pressing developmental issues facing current generation. Signed: Sandra OparaPublic Relations OfficerMinistry of Digital Economy& E-Government, Imo State