UNESCO Cites SkillUp Imo as Model Sub-National Initiative in Nigeria's Artificial Intelligence Readiness Report

The recognition featured prominently in the unveiling of the Nigeria Artificial Intelligence Readiness Assessment Methodology Report, a comprehensive study supported by the European Union to evaluate the country's readiness for ethical, inclusive and sustainable AI development. The report was unveiled at a high-level event in Abuja that brought together government officials, international partners, development agencies, academics and technology stakeholders. Vanguard News

Within the report, UNESCO singled out SkillUp Imo as a practical demonstration of how state governments can advance national artificial intelligence objectives through targeted investment in digital skills, innovation and human capital development. Imo State was among a select group of states commended for technology-driven interventions strengthening Nigeria's broader digital ecosystem and preparing citizens for the demands of the emerging economy.

The Readiness Assessment evaluates national preparedness across five core dimensions, namely legal and regulatory frameworks, social and cultural factors, scientific and educational capacity, economic conditions, and technological and infrastructural readiness. A central finding of the report holds that digital literacy, workforce development and technology capacity-building are indispensable to the successful adoption and governance of artificial intelligence.

Officials say SkillUp Imo aligns closely with these priorities. Established under the administration of Governor Hope Uzodimma, the programme was designed to arm young people with globally competitive digital skills and prepare them for opportunities within the digital economy. Through structured training, mentorship and access to technology infrastructure, the initiative has reportedly equipped tens of thousands of youths with competencies spanning artificial intelligence, software engineering, cybersecurity, robotics, data analytics and cloud computing, among other emerging disciplines.

The programme draws support from complementary investments such as Imo Digital City and the Imo Digital Learning Centres, which serve as platforms for training, innovation, research and device assembly, and are intended to help cultivate a technology-oriented workforce and entrepreneurial ecosystem within the State.

According to the report, Nigeria achieved an overall artificial intelligence readiness score of 47.9, EduTimes Africa a figure officials say reflects progress made in governance, regulation and digital infrastructure development. The assessment further identifies Nigeria as one of Africa's emerging markets for artificial intelligence, propelled by rising investment, innovation hubs, research institutions, start-ups and public-sector programmes.

Speaking at the unveiling, UNESCO's Officer-in-Charge in Abuja, Dimitri Sanga, said the assessment provides a framework for implementing the organisation's global Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, intended to keep AI development inclusive, human-centred and responsibly governed. EduTimes Africa He noted that successful initiatives at the sub-national level illustrate how national policy objectives can be translated into concrete opportunities for citizens.

Reacting to the recognition, the Commissioner for Digital Economy and E-Government, Dr Chimezie Amadi, described UNESCO's acknowledgement of SkillUp Imo as validation of the State Government's continued investment in digital transformation and youth empowerment. He said the recognition affirmed the Governor's vision of positioning Imo State as a leading digital economy hub and centre of innovation on the African continent.

Amadi explained that SkillUp Imo was conceived not merely as a skills-acquisition scheme but as a long-term strategy for economic transformation, noting that the changing nature of work driven by artificial intelligence, automation and data made it imperative to ensure that young Imo residents were not left behind in the global shift toward digital competence.

He added that beyond training, the programme was building an ecosystem supporting innovation, talent development, job creation and technology-driven enterprise, with investments in Imo Digital City and the Digital Learning Centres providing platforms for learning, research, incubation and technology manufacturing. He said the overarching goal was to produce not merely technology users but innovators and solution providers capable of contributing meaningfully to Nigeria's digital economy and the continent's artificial intelligence future.

The Commissioner further stated that the UNESCO report reinforced the centrality of human capital development to meaningful artificial intelligence adoption, noting that equipping thousands of young people with future-relevant digital skills was helping to strengthen Nigeria's broader AI ecosystem, expand digital inclusion and open avenues for sustainable economic growth.

The recognition accorded to SkillUp Imo within UNESCO's Artificial Intelligence Readiness Assessment Report reinforces Imo State's growing profile as a centre for digital innovation, and highlights the expanding role of sub-national government initiatives in advancing Nigeria's ambition for an inclusive, ethical and globally competitive artificial intelligence-enabled economy.