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The impact of Cohort 2 SkillUpImo training for 15,000 Imo youths

Leave a Comment / Imo Sate, Skillup Imo / sandra Opara

The Imo State Governor, Sen.Hope Uzodimma has flagged- off the second edition of the SKILLUPImo digital training programme, Cohort 2 for 15,000 Imo youths, reiterating his administration’s irrevocable commitment to laying a solid foundation for youths to deploy their acquired digital skills anywhere they go and excel accordingly. Launching the programme at Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri on Thursday, May 4, 2023, the Governor emphasized that the welfare of youths is central to the prosperity agenda of his government, as they represent the present and future generation of Imo State. He disclosed that the success recorded with the first edition, Cohort 1, had come to the attention of President Muhammadu Buhari, the multinational national companies such as Coca Cola and others. For example, he said Imo State has attracted a grant of a million dollars ($1m) from CocaCola as a result of the investment in digital economy and that the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy is poised to support the programme and ensure graduation and proper equipping of the trainees. Read moreMinistry floats Skillupimo challenge Governor Uzodimma recalled that 5000 youths were trained and graduated in Cohort 1, empowered with laptops and other start-up kits based on their chosen areas of specialization. He noted that the step to achieving the target of graduating100,000 youths in digital skills can only be realised with the encouragement of participants. The Governor said: “Today we are flagging off 15,000 young men and women with plans at top gear to ensure that we shall achieve before the end of this year, 100,000milestone within our implementation programme. To this end,1 have directed the Ministry of Digital Economy and E-Government to explore necessary collaborations considered expedient to ensure increased access to SKILL-UPImo programme for all Imo State residents and citizens.”On graduation, not only will we give you start up kits but also Professional Certificates” “Learn the Course, acquire the knowledge and then leave the rest to my government,” he charged them, saying “this will enable you contribute to the economic development of Nigeria and the world at large.” “The programme will help to engender peace because by the time the 100,000 youths are removed from the unemployment market, Imo State will be safe, Nigeria will be safe and the economy will improve,” he added.The Governor said the Skill-Up Programme has nothing to do with political party, zone or where one comes from hence he appealed to the youths to convince their parents to allow them acquire the necessary skills for their future. Read moreSoon, Imo will be Africa’s Digital Hub – Dr Chimezie AmadiHe commended the efforts of the Commissioner for Digital Economy and E-Government and the Resource Persons for their commitment to the success of the programme and for a job welldone. Earlier, the Commissioner for Digital Economy and E-Government, Dr.Chimezie Amadi said the objective of the training programme is to train 300,000 youths in the space of three years, graduating 100,000 each year. He revealed that apart from the five learning centres in use, five more have been added to increase access to the training programme as directed by Governor Uzodimma and assured that “the mandate to train 100,000 each year will be realised by his Ministry.” He listed the extra centres to include Imo State Polytechnic Omuma, K,O Mbadiwe University, Ogboko, College of Health Sciences, Amaigbo, Claretian University Nekede, and University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Umuagwo. Read morePRIVATE SECTOR SUPPORT: IMO DIGITAL ECONOMY INITIATIVE RECEIVES BOOST.Some of the beneficiaries of Cohort 1 who graduated last month shared their experiences and gains from the training. Miss Chioma Onuoha, Mr.Cletus Munachimso, and Mr.Chuks Godwin, individually thanked Governor Uzodimma for the life changing experience they got from the training programme. They said the training had positioned them to be earning money from their skills.

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Imo State partners NSCDC to train personnel in cybersecurity

Leave a Comment / People, Skillup Imo / IMDEEG

The Imo State Ministry of Digital Economy and E-government is partnering with the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to train the latter’s personel in cybersecurity in line with the sixth pillar of the Imo Digital Economy Agenda (IDEA) 2022-2026, focusing on partnership and collaboration. To solidify the collaborative partnership talks, the Imo State Hon. Commissioner, Digital Economy and E-Government, Dr. Chimezie Amadi, who paid a working visit to the NSCDC State Headquarters, has disclosed the readiness the State, through the Ministry, to train, at least, 10 officers in the area of cybersecurity. Amadi said cybersecurity is an advanced level course in the SkillUpImo training project of the Ministry which it does in partnership with Cisco Academy, stressing that in addition to cybersecurity, training will also be offered to NSCDC officials in Forensic Auditing, knowledge of which will aid in limiting crime in the state and environs. While stating that criminality has left the terrestrial plane and has moved to the cyberspace, the Commissioner said equipping the officials with 4.0 industry revolution skill set in Cybersecurity will make for a saner and more sanitized cyberspace. Read moreMinistry floats Skillupimo challenge Amadi during the visit to the NSCDC Headquarters observed the excellence and diligence displayed by the NSCDC officials in carrying out their duties in the State, adding that since digitalization thrives on excellence, the Ministry would not hesitate to strengthen ties with and build a better platform for partnership and collaboration that guarantees exchange of ideas for mutually-beneficial engagement between the State and NSCDC. “Having an objective to make impact on the security of lives and property of the good citizens of Imo by infusing digital technology, in addition to leveraging security in expanding the economic frontiers of lmo State, the technological transformation via partnership will invariably lead to a revolution unlike any other in the Imo tech space” he said. Throwing more light, Amadi expressed the need for every sector of the society to adopt digital economy, saying it is now the current force driving the economy of nations. “Technology has diffused itself into all aspects of life and relying on smart and intelligent digital tools which when deployed can help in intelligent gathering and enhance faster decision making in terms of securing our environment,” the Commissioner said. Read moreSoon, Imo will be Africa’s Digital Hub – Dr Chimezie AmadiResponding, the Imo State Commandant of NSCDC, Matthew Ovye, appreciated the important role the Governor of Imo State, His Excellency Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodinma and his team have been playing in engaging the youth in meaningful activities, thereby preventing idle ones from venturing into criminal activities. He also described the appointment of Amadi as Commissioner to drive digital transformation in the state as a case of a round peg in a round hole, just as he applauded the digital agenda of the government and was optimistic that in no time other States of the nation will follow suit. Ovye particularly expressed delight at the approval of granting his personnel the opportunity to benefit from the ongoing Cohort 2 of the SkillUp Imo Project and promised to take word back to the Commandant General of the prime collaborative partnership. The development is coming a few months after the creation of the Ministry driving digital transformation of the Imo State for greater economic prosperity. Read morePRIVATE SECTOR SUPPORT: IMO DIGITAL ECONOMY INITIATIVE RECEIVES BOOST.Signed: Sandra Opara Public Relations Officer Imo State’s Ministry of Digital Economy and E-Government

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Future assured for Imo youths

Leave a Comment / Skillup Imo, Senator Hope Uzodinma / IMDEEG

The Federal Government though the Federal Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy launched the National Digital Economy and Strategy Policy (NDEPS) 2020-2030 and encouraged all the federating states which Imo is part of, to streamline their operations and adopt the provisions of this policy to give a fillip to the Digital Nigeria Agenda. On the benefits of Imo State in this federal government’s 10-year digital economy policy, he stated that the very point the Ministry was created and his subsequent appointment to head it, he wasted no time in setting the ball rolling with the help of the governor. According to him, one thing he had at the back of his mind was the goal of making Imo the leading digital economy state in Nigeria. The other objective, he added, is to make Imo the digital skill hub of Africa. And to achieve this goal, he further explained that they developed what is called Imo Digital Economy Agenda (IDEA)2022 -2026. The Commissioner explained that the policy is hinged on six pillars. He said: “We have pillar one, which we call digital literacy and skills. Pillar two we call the solid infrastructure. Pillar three is soft infrastructure. Pillar four is focused on advocacy. Pillar five is Monetary and Evaluation while the sixth pillar is about Collaboration and Partnership. Read moreMinistry floats Skillupimo challenge “That first pillar, digital literacy and skills, will focus on equipping Imo youths with the fourth industrial revolution digital skills that will make them become players and contributors in the evolving digital economy which this government has placed very high premium on.” Imo youths, he said, has benefitted from the programme since it started. “Imo youths have remained thankful for the enormous benefit they have derived. The first and the immediate impact it had on them is the idea of bringing into their consciousness the importance of technology in today’s world. “Before now, some of these youths were seen as graduates or holders of masters degree. They read different courses in the university but they are not employed and they are not employable because they do not have the digital skill required in a digital era. So, we brought their consciousness to become digitally literate and acquiring digital skills,” he explained. He added that a lot of them were already becoming self-employed on their own even midway into their training. Some of them, especially those doing courses like phone repairs, graphic design, digital marketing, are already having clients on their own. Read moreSoon, Imo will be Africa’s Digital Hub – Dr Chimezie Amadi“There are businesses in Owerri that have no digital presence or footprint in the cyberspace which limits their volume of transaction per day. Part of the task we gave our trainees is to go out in the streets of Owerri, open social media business accounts for SMEs in platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, Yutube and begin to manage their online presence, create opportunity for people to see the products and services they offer and then patronise them,” he volunteered. Besides the free lunch and stipends given to the participants, they are also motivated through hackathons focused on what they have learnt and the best class receives N50,000 cash prize. Amadi also explained that they were receiving great assistance from technology gurus in the state such as Leo Stan Ekeh, the Zinox boss, and others. One of the participants, John Paul, who expressed his joy for being part of the programme thanked the governor for his initiative. He said: ” It’s not easy to fund this kind of skills acquisition programme but the governor has done it. On our own part, after all the good gesture, we promise to replicate it to those outside.” Read morePRIVATE SECTOR SUPPORT: IMO DIGITAL ECONOMY INITIATIVE RECEIVES BOOST.Another participant, Olusegun Ójo, said the training afforded him the opportunity to be self employed, as many clients now book appointment with him to do one or two things for them.

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UZODINMA TO EMPOWER 300,000 YOUTHS

Leave a Comment / Skillup Imo, Senator Hope Uzodinma / sandra Opara

Imo State is positioning to become a leading digital hub in Nigeria as the private sector declares support to the state government on its SkillUpImoProject. SkillUpImo is the youth’s digital skills empowerment programme implemented under the administration of the state governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, to transform Imo citizens into global citizens with relevant digital skills in the 21st Century. Now, the project is attracting huge private sector participation as two prominent tech- entrepreneurs from the state, Chairman Zinox Technologies, Mr Leo Stan Ekeh, and President and Chief Executive Officer of Inno & Bisco Groups, Mr Innocent Chibuzor Unoha, have pledged massive support to the State Government’s vision. While Eke made a cash donation of N12.5 million to the State’s Ministry of Digital Economy and E-government, the ministry implementing the SkillUpImo Project, Unoha donated 10 units of high-end modern laptops to the Ministry also in support of the initiative. Read moreMinistry floats Skillupimo challenge In addition, Ekeh also announced job opportunities for about 200 graduate trainees of the SkillupImo project with specialisation in phone repairs, digital marketing, and so on. Ekeh’s Zinox Technologies is one of Africa’s most integrated information and communication Technology (ICT) company, first Nigerian internationally certified ICT firm was also rated as a leading ICT firm in Africa as a whole.Ekeh is a Forbes-rated billionaire IT guru, Unoha, is an entrepreneur of note, tech enthusiast and philanthropist, who is based in Istanbul, Turkey. Meanwhile, the Commissioner, Ministry of Digital Economy and E-Government in Imo State, Dr Chimezie Amadi, said the gestures were a welcome development and a clear testament of the general appeal that the SkillUpImo Project has generated across demographics since launched in December 2022.While thanking the donors, he said the gestures were symptomatic of the donor’s philanthropic and corporate social responsibility to the efforts of the Executive Governor of Imo State. Amadi, on the other hand, called on corporate bodies, illustrious sons and daughters of Imo State and well-meaning Nigerians to come forward and support this noble project of rescuing the future generation and equipping them with relevant digital skills.

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Gov. Uzodimma Unveils Imo Digital Economy Agenda (IDEA) 2022-2026

PRIVATE SECTOR SUPPORT: IMO DIGITAL ECONOMY INITIATIVE RECEIVES BOOST.

Leave a Comment / Skillup Imo, Technology / IMDEEG

His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodinma’s agenda of positioning Imo State as the leading digital economy of the nation and his goal of equipping imolites…

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Soon, Imo will be Africa’s Digital Hub – Dr Chimezie Amadi

Leave a Comment / Dr Chimezie Amadi, Skillup Imo / sandra Opara

Pioneer Commissioner for Digital Economy and e-Government, Dr. Chimezie Amadi revealed in this interview with National News blast that Imo State will soon become Africa’s digital hub thanks to plans being activated by the newly created ministry, the first in Nigeria Excerpts. Q: May we know you, Sir? A: I am Dr. Chimezie Amadi, the Imo State Commissioner for Digital Economy and e-Government.Q: Can you shed some light on where we are right now? A:Yes. Here,we have a learning Centre embedded in the Ministry of Digital Economy and e-Government head office located on Egbu Road,Owerri. Read moreMinistry floats Skillupimo challenge Q: What exactly, do you do here? A: First of all, it is important to note that this Ministry is the first of its kind in Nigeria. It was created by the Governor of Imo State, His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma to promote digital economy to place Imo as the leading digital economy state in Nigeria. So, in the Ministry, we have developed a plan called IDEA 2022-2026. It stands for Imo Digital Economy Agenda 20222-2026. It is a five-year plan with critical pillars designed to ensure of a robust digital economy in Imo State. The first pillar is Digital Literacy and Skills. The second pillar is the Solid Infrastructure Pillar. The third is Soft Infrastructure Pillar. The fourth is Advocacy Pillar. The fifth is the Partnership and CollaborationPillar. These pillars, when developed, the digital economy of Imo State will be standing on them. Q: What is digital economy? Read morePRIVATE SECTOR SUPPORT: IMO DIGITAL ECONOMY INITIATIVE RECEIVES BOOST.A: Digital economy is what we call the internet economy or the web-based economy. Globally today, the world is transitioning from analogue economy or traditional economy to digital economy. What this means is that government activities and services will leverage digital economy to provide quality and efficient services through the people and you will see most activities of government like land administration, healthcare delivery, and education upgraded via the deployment of digital technology beyond what we are experiencing today. It is easier for people to access land administration services. We are going to digitize that sector. In the transportation sector, we shall develop an e-transport system that will help people access transportation services. You don’t need to go to the motor park to buy tickets to travel from Owerri to Abuja. Q: Do you have facilities to sustain this project? A: Of course. That is why I talked about the solid infrastructure. The first infrastructure is literacy and skills as the first pillar. But when you talk about the solid infrastructure, it focuses on building robust network and access infrastructure to support our digital transformation goal. That requires a fibre-optic networks, tools like computers, laptops, accessible, and affordable internet being provided so that the civil service will make sure that the system there is computerised and the processes are digitised, development of application soft wares to support the services and training of the work force in the civil service to become digital compliant. That will help them to use those infrastructures provided for them. Read moreGov. Uzodimma Unveils Imo Digital Economy Agenda (IDEA) 2022-2026Critical to your question is the development of broadband infrastructure in Imo State. Globally, the broadband infrastructure is in very scarce supply. It is not just in Africa but the whole world. Everybody in running # raee io increase his broadband stock. So, what we have as plan which we call solid infrastructure pillar is to ensure that that there is alibre network that is developed to connect all the critical areas and critical sectors in Imo State, When that is done, you have laid a solid foundation for digital transformation in Imo State. Q: How long does the training last? A: This training is a three-year program. The objective is to make lmo the digital skills hub of Africa. In the next three years, Imo State is planning to train three hundred thousand youths and equip them with what we call fourth industrial revolution skill sets. For the trainees you have seen, there are three categories of programs. You have the basic for beginners which lasts for a maximum of five weeks. We have the intermediate program which lasts for a maximum of eight months. Then we have the advanced program which lasts for three months. Q:So,the trainees cannot gain appreciable knowledge till they have spent three years here? A:When you say how long does this program last, for the entire program, it is three years. Most of them are at the basic level. Their program will end by the last weck of January. We will graduate those who have learnt and passed the tests we are going to set for them. So, precisely to your question, if it is a graduate trainee, what you have now will last for a maximum of four to six months. Someone who is doing cyber security or robotics, identification and simulation will spend more time. Q:How many of such centres do you have in Imo State? A:There are five at the moment namely, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Alvan IkokuFederal College of Education, Imo State University and here. We are also going to use the ICT Centres at the 27 Local Government Areas of the state and town halls of communities. Corporate bodies like ZinoxTecnologies have started partnering with us. The chairman of Zinox, Chief .Leo Stan Ekeh came here and saw what we are doing and made a cash donation to support this vision and promised to do more because he was impressed.Very soon, any digital service needed anywhere in Africa will be rendered from Imo State as Africa’s digital hub and people will be earning dollars and pounds sterling with their skills.

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