Imo's MDEEG Academy Named Nigeria's Best Performing Cisco Networking Academy for FY26

The Imo State Government has been recognised as home to the best performing Cisco Networking Academy in Nigeria for the 2026 fiscal year, after the MDEEG Academy, the training arm of the state's Ministry of Digital Economy and E-Governance, was presented with the Nigeria Best Performing Cisco Networking Academy Award for FY26.

According to the citation on the plaque, the academy was recognised for recording the highest number of student participants in Nigeria within the Cisco system during the fiscal year, and for expanding access to digital skills training for the next generation of technology professionals.

The award distinguishes the academy from other institutions in the Cisco Networking Academy network in Nigeria, which include universities, polytechnics, private training centres and government-backed programmes. Its recognition on the basis of participation figures places the Imo State initiative at the top of a national field that has been developed over more than two decades.

The MDEEG Academy is the training arm of the Ministry of Digital Economy and E-Governance, which is headed by Dr Chimezie Amadi, the Honourable Commissioner for Digital Economy and E-Governance. It serves as the delivery platform for the Skill-Up Imo programme, the digital skills initiative introduced under the administration of Governor Hope Uzodimma to equip young people in the state with practical, job-ready technology competencies.

The Cisco Networking Academy is the global information technology education programme of Cisco Systems, one of the world's leading networking companies. Established in 1997, it has grown into one of the largest technology classrooms in the world, with academies in more than 180 countries and millions of learners trained to date. It offers courses in networking, cybersecurity, programming and data analysis, and prepares students for internationally recognised certifications such as the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA). In Nigeria, the programme has operated for more than two decades and has been delivered through institutions and government partners, including the National Information Technology Development Agency.

The state government has indicated that the award reflects the scale of the Skill-Up Imo programme. According to official figures, about 40,000 young people were trained in the first and second cohorts, while a further 10,000 were enrolled in the third cohort in October 2025. The state's broader ambition is to train 100,000 youths in digital skills, as part of a strategy to position Imo as a leading digital hub in Africa. The government also describes Imo as the first state in Nigeria to establish a dedicated ministry for the digital economy and e-governance.

Officials say the significance of the recognition lies not only in the volume of training but also in its potential effect on employment. Cisco certifications are widely regarded in the technology industry as credentials that demonstrate practical competence in network engineering, cybersecurity and related fields, and they are recognised by employers in Nigeria and abroad. The state government has sought to connect trained youths to remote work opportunities through Techsophere, a platform established to link Imo's technology talent with employers, and has reported that more than 1,000 young people have so far been linked to such opportunities.

The award is also expected to strengthen the state's appeal to investors and technology companies seeking locations with a deep pool of trained young talent. Because the recognition was issued by an independent global technology company rather than by the government itself, officials regard it as external validation of the state's digital skills agenda and as a boost to the credibility of certificates earned through the academy.

For the thousands of young people who have passed through the programme, the distinction is likely to enhance the standing of their qualifications in the labour market, since it indicates that the academy that trained them recorded the highest participation in the country.

The Imo State Government has said that it will continue to expand access to digital skills training, with the aim of preparing a larger number of young people for careers in technology and the global digital economy.