Imo State government has described the acknowledgement of SkillUpImo by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) as a validation of its investment in digital transformation and youth empowerment.

UNESCO recently recognised the state’s flagship digital empowerment programme, SkillUpImo, as a leading sub-national initiative contributing to Nigeria’s preparedness for the responsible adoption and deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

The recognition came during the unveiling of the Nigeria AI Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM) Report, a landmark study supported by the European Union (EU) to assess Nigeria’s readiness for ethical, inclusive and sustainable AI development.

In the report, UNESCO highlighted SkillUpImo as a practical example of how sub-national governments can advance national AI objectives through investments in digital skills, innovation and human capital development.

Imo was among the states of the federation recognised for technology-driven interventions that strengthen Nigeria’s digital ecosystem and prepare citizens for the future economy.

The AI RAM evaluates countries across five key dimensions: Legal and Regulatory, Social and Cultural, Scientific and Educational, Economic, and Technological and Infrastructural.

A major finding of the report is that digital literacy, workforce development and technology capacity-building are critical to successful AI adoption and governance.

According to Imo State Commissioner for Digital Economy and e-Governence, Dr Chimezie Amadi, SkillUpImo aligns strongly with these priorities.

He added: “Established by the administration of Governor Hope Uzodimma, the programme was designed to equip young people with globally relevant digital skills and position them for opportunities in the digital economy.

“Through training, mentorship, and access to technology infrastructure, the initiative has empowered tens of thousands of youths with competencies in AI, software engineering, cybersecurity, robotics, data analytics, cloud computing, and other emerging technologies.”

The programme, The Guardian gathered, is supported by strategic investments such as the Imo Digital City and the Imo Digital Learning Centres, which provide platforms for training, innovation, research, and device assembly, helping to build a technology-driven workforce and entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The report underscores the importance of developing human capital as a foundation for AI readiness—a goal directly addressed by SkillUpImo.

According to the report, Nigeria achieved an overall AI readiness score of 47.9, reflecting progress in governance, regulation, and digital infrastructure development. It further identifies Nigeria as one of Africa’s emerging AI markets, driven by growing investments, innovation hubs, research institutions, startups, and public-sector initiatives.

Speaking on the report, UNESCO Officer-in-Charge in Abuja, Dimitri Sanga, said the assessment provides a framework for implementing UNESCO’s Global Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, ensuring that AI remains inclusive, human-centred, and responsibly governed.

Amadi noted that successful sub-national initiatives demonstrate how policy objectives could be translated into real opportunities for