Emma Okonji
Following the successful graduation of 5, 000 Imo State youths from the Skill-Imo Programme, the state has said it is preparing to train 45,000 Nigerian youths in the next cohort.
The state government in a statement, said the first batch of 5,000 participants were fed and stipends given to them for their transportation in the course of the programme and upon graduation, received either laptops, tablets or smartphones.
Pleased with the quality of training offered during the programme, some notable and well-meaning citizens of Imo State have jumped on board to support the Imo State government in they described as outstanding initiative. Consequently, several graduates of the Skill-Up Imo Programme have been employed in firms owned by leading Imo citizens. A good example is the Zinox Group owned by Africa’s biggest tech guru, Leo Stan Ekeh, which was in the news for employing many graduates of the scheme.
According to the statement, “In a country where unemployment statistic is at double-digits, the action of the state government in training youths for employment, must be commended.
” The participants also benefitted from exposure to trainings by several Imo citizens in the Diaspora. Upon graduation, the participants received either a brand-new Zinox or HP laptop at a well-attended event graced by the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani; the Minister of Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji; Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkiru Onyejeocha, Senators and members of the House of Representatives, as well as captains of industries.”
Imo youths who recently graduated from the Skill-Up project are also catching the attention of global tech giants. This is due to the structured contents and processes upon which the Skill-Up Programme has been built, all of which is transforming the 3R Digital Learning Centre into a Centre of Excellence in Africa.
Representatives of some of these tech giants from Europe, Canada, and Singapore have had the privilege of visiting the centre to see things for themselves. Owing to their conviction from the evidence on the ground, a number of them have expressed interest in a partnership with the Skill-Up Imo Programme under the Imo State government which will see some graduates of the programme come over for an exchange programme to further shore up their global competitiveness and marketability.
Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State has gone even further by promising to support the selected graduates by subsidising their trip abroad to facilitate the partnership. The driving ambition behind this gesture is the fact that some of the graduates may eventually return to to the state to establish startups after working for a few years in these countries, while others may even choose to work remotely for these global brands.
