Sir: Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma came under fire last week with his comment that Imo would export 4,000 youths to Europe for jobs. While the potential beneficiaries cheered, some Imo citizens, especially those on the opposition, upbraided the governor. As expected, the video went viral on social media.

For those on the opposition, the comment tends to mean that Imo youths are to be sold into modern slavery. Any smart thinker can adduce reasons to justify this school of thought. However, considering the governor’s investment in youth empowerment through the SkillUpImo initiative and what India and other countries reap from exporting human resources, one would understand the merits of the governor’s plan.

Recently, the governor and his Commissioner for Digital Economy and E-Government, Dr. Chimezie Amadi, won awards in Lagos, through this initiative. Even at the Owerri event where Uzodimma made the comment, the Chief Executive of Zinox Technologies, Leo Stan Ekeh, described the initiative as the first of such from any government in Nigeria, from the federal down to the councils. He urged the beneficiaries to keep praying for Uzodimma for the gesture.

The Zinox boss said: “This is not the first time; I missed the first one, which was for 5,000 students. Today, it is 15,000. With this budget, the governor knows what he can do with it. What His Excellency has done today, it will be difficult for even the Federal Government to do it, on one decision…”

Amadi, considering the activities going on in the ministry, described the state as an emerging digital skills hub, noting that the SkillUpImo programme aspires to position Imo as Nigeria’s premier digital skills pipeline and incubator. SkillUpImo aims are expected to birth economic diversification, global competitiveness, youth retention, entrepreneurship and innovation, as well as social inclusion and equality.

Under the first result, the programme can diversify the state’s economy by producing a highly skilled workforce in digital and technology-related fields. This diversification can help the state become less dependent on a single industry and more resilient to economic downturns.

The second is international exposure and collaboration, especially with the European Union (EU) – what the governor referred to in his speech. Exposing the youth to Europe’s labour market can enhance the global competitiveness of Imo. By aligning its education and skills development with global standards, the state can attract international businesses and investment, creating a more robust digital ecosystem.

On the issue of exporting talents, it is noteworthy that the greatest exporter of human resources is India, at no cost. Between 2021 and 2022, India received $89 billion worth of foreign exchange from Non-Resident Indians (NRIs). This accounted for 13 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The country, according to International Monetary Fund (IMF), has the world’s sixth-largest economy. Recent projections put the economy at $3.18 trillion in the period under review, and may hit $5 trillion in 2027.

Interestingly, the careers India is exporting include tech and health workers.

So, if Uzodimma is training youths to become tech expatriates, as India is doing, it should be unfair to crucify him because with sincerity of purpose, Imo will be emerging digital skills hub for Nigeria and Africa.

• Innocent Anoruo, a journalist, wrote from Lagos