Imo state is redefining youth empowerment. Under Governor Hope Uzodimma, the state has moved beyond one-off interventions and short-term handouts to a coordinated, technology-first approach that equips Imo youths with in-demand digital skills, connects them to global opportunities, and builds the infrastructure and institutions needed for long-term growth.

To fully conceive the significance of this shift, it is important to understand the global context in which the digital economy operates. The digital economy is an economy built on digital tools, skills and connectivity, where youths can access global markets, work remotely, build startups and contribute to national growth without being limited by geography. It is about creating value, solving problems and generating income through digital skills, platforms and innovation ecosystems.

Uzodimma’s administration understands that in this 21st century, the dynamics of youth empowerment are rapidly shifting from traditional employment pathways to technology-driven opportunities powered by the digital economy. Across the world, nations that have strategically positioned their young population at the center of digital transformation are reaping enormous socio-economic dividends. Today, digital technologies contribute over $15 trillion to the global economy annually, accounting for about 16 per cent of global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growing 2.5 times faster than the overall economy.

This growth has opened millions of opportunities for young people worldwide. In Kenya, the digital economy contributes 7.7 per cent of GDP, engaging over 1.2 million youths through online freelance platforms and digital finance. India’s Digital India initiative has trained more than 12 million youths, reducing unemployment and driving a startup boom, with over 40 per cent of startups being youth-led. In Rwanda, over 5,000 digital ambassadors have trained one million citizens in digital literacy, enabling participation in e-governance and e-commerce.

Across Africa, the digital economy is projected to reach $180 billion by 2025, or 5.2 per cent of the continent’s GDP. Nigeria, home to over 220 million people, 70 per cent of whom are under 35, stands at the heart of this revolution. Yet, the challenge and opportunity lie in channeling this youthful energy into productive digital innovation.

Today, youth unemployment in Nigeria stands at approximately 53 per cent according to the National Bureau of Statistics, 2023. This reflects a skills mismatch between the demands of a digital economy and the realities of our educational and vocational systems.

Over 60 per cent of Nigerian graduates, according to the World Bank, lack digital competencies relevant to modern workplaces. Yet, the same digital sector has created over 2.5 million jobs in Nigeria in the last decade, ranging from fintech and software engineering to digital marketing, artificial intelligence, and blockchain development. This contrast underscores a critical point: our challenge is not a lack of opportunities, but a lack of relevant digital skills.

Digital skills are the new currency of empowerment. A young person who can code, analyse data, design digital products, or manage cloud systems can gainfully work for companies in Lagos, Nairobi, Dubai, or even Silicon Valley, without leaving Owerri.

Imo, under Uzodimma’s administration, is demonstrating the transformative power of the digital economy through the SkillUpImo Project; the largest digital skills development programme in Nigeria anchored on the Governor’s digital policy, the Imo Digital Economy Agenda (IDEA 2022–2026). Through this initiative, Uzodimma has introduced a new model for youth empowerment, one that prioritises digital competence, innovation, and global relevance over traditional interventions.

SkillUpImo has trained over 50,000 Imo youths in critical twenty-first-century skills such as software development, data analytics, cybersecurity, digital marketing, UI/UX design, robotics, and entrepreneurship. Through this programme, the Uzodimma administration has redefined the philosophy of youth empowerment; from tricycling to coding, from handouts to high-speed broadband, and from free tokens to freelancing opportunities.

Many SkillUpImo trainees, today, have secured remote jobs and launched over 20 startups within the country and in the Diaspora, including Adminting, GCAD Generative Services, Monapp, Basetech Hub, Frankbotics, and several more, demonstrating how Imo youths are leveraging digital skills to build scalable, technology-driven enterprises. 40 per cent of SkillUpImo graduates have transitioned into digital entrepreneurship, offering freelance services on platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, LinkedIn, and the ministry’s own freelance platform; Techosphere.

Driving this transformation are landmark initiatives like the MyImoApp, which has digitised governance and citizen engagement across sectors, and the Imo Digital City Limited (IDCL) a technology innovation hub co-owned by the Imo government. This Special Purpose Vehicle has become the nucleus of Imo’s digital transformation, fostering innovation, supporting startups, and nurturing the state’s growing tech ecosystem.

Uzodimma’s model of youth empowerment is built on four interconnected pillars; a framework that any state in Nigeria can replicate to accelerate digital transformation and job creation.

Digital skills development: At the heart of the model is large-scale, market-driven digital training that equips young people with globally relevant competencies. Through initiatives like SkillUpImo, thousands of youths are trained annually in software engineering, data analytics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, robotics, and product design. This ensures the workforce is aligned with the demands of modern digital industries, enabling youths to compete for global remote jobs and create tech-driven solutions.

Digital Infrastructure: Uzodimma’s approach recognises that skills alone are not enough; young innovators need the right environment to thrive. The state has invested in platforms and infrastructure such as Imo Digital City; a co-owned innovation hub and SPV, and digital public service tools like MyImoApp. These facilities provide broadband connectivity, co-creation spaces, research labs, and digital service centres that support startups, freelancers, and public-sector digitisation.

Digital Entrepreneurship Support: A key feature of the model is the continuous pipeline from skills acquisition to business creation. Imo provides startup incubation, mentorship, innovation challenges, access to funding, and linkages to local and international markets. This has enabled SkillUpImo graduates to launch over 20 startups, secure remote jobs, and deliver export-ready digital services, proving that state-backed digital entrepreneurship can be a major economic driver.

Digital Governance: Imo is also digitising government operations to increase transparency, efficiency and citizen engagement. Services delivered through the MyImoApp create demand for digital solutions, stimulate local innovation, and reduce bureaucratic barriers. By integrating technology into governance, the state builds trust while creating job opportunities for local tech talent who design, maintain, and upgrade these systems.

Rather than short-term grants or ad hoc interventions, Imo’s model emphasises durable capability: skills that translate into employability, products that scale into businesses, and infrastructure that sustains a digital ecosystem. Early results, thousands trained, dozens of startups, revenue from exported services and a growing innovation hub, suggest the approach is working and is scalable to other states with political will and public-private partnership.

Governor Uzodimma’s administration’s youth empowerment model passes a clear message: youth empowerment in the digital age requires more than goodwill, it requires strategy, institutions and investment. If other states adopt even parts of this model, Nigeria will be better placed to convert its demographic advantage into economic growth.

Dr Amadi is the Imo Commissioner for Digital Economy and E-Government.