Over a Hundred persons with disabilities including deaf and dumb people, crippled persons and other physical challenges in Imo State have benefited from the digital empowerment programme, termed ‘Skill-Up Imo Project’ organized by the state government led by Sen Hope Uzodimma.

The beneficiaries alongside 4800 others especially youths were trained in digital marketing, entrepreneurship, content creation and other technology skills to enhance their personal economic growth and development.

At the graduation ceremony held in Owerri last week, each of the special citizens was given One Hundred Thousand Naira each to aid their endeavours, while other participants also received starter packs, including laptops, among other incentives.

Speaking at the event which had Minister for Communications and Digital Economy, Hon. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami as a special guest, the state Commissioner for Digital Economy and E-government, Dr Chimezie Amadi disclosed that the programme was designed to help the participants, “acquire the 4th industrial revolution skill-set required to thrive in a modern society.”
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He furthered that the programme was also aimed at making Imo the digital skills hub of Africa; tackling issues of youth unemployment and restiveness and promoting the adoption of technology to stimulate the socio-economic development of the state.

The Commissioner who informed that Imo is the first state in Nigeria that has implemented such a programme in support of the policy and efforts of the federal government to provide employment opportunities across the country added that through the programme, 300,000 Imo youths will be trained in a space of three years.

Amadi who also appreciated Pantami and Governor Uzodimma for the vision which he said would spur the development of a tech-driven economy in both the state and country at large, added that the project would make a great impact on the beneficiaries for common good.

He finally urged the graduands to be worthy ambassadors of the programme by fully utilizing their newly acquired skills to better themselves and the society at large.