… Graduates 10,000 more on digital skill acquisition, unveils MyImoApp
Governor Hope Uzodimma has said that his administration is laying durable, practical, and forward- looking foundation in Imo State with the Skill-Up Imo Programme.
He spoke Saturday, October 11, 2025, at the Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu International Convention Centre, Owerri during the graduation of another 10,000 Imo young men and women who recently completed their digital training under the Cohort 3 of the Skill-Up Imo Project.
40,000 had earlier been trained in Cohorts 1 and 2 in the fields like software engineering, AI, cyber security, digital marketing among others, with many of them either gainfully employed in the digital technology outside Imo State or self-employed.
During the graduation ceremony, the Governor equally unveiled a digital device known as MyImoApp. The App will enable citizens to engage with government seamlessly for services like land record verification, documentation, tax payments, emergency reporting and business promotion from anywhere around the world.
Addressing the 10,000 graduates, the Governor congratulated them and expressed happiness over his administration’s earlier resolve to focus on digital skill acquisition, youth empowerment as well as placing Imo State at the forefront of the 21st Century digital economy.
He said his administration remains committed in supporting young men and women’s growth through access, mentorship, finance and infrastructure.
“We are not casually training people; we are laying practical, durable, and forward-facing foundations,” the Governor said.
He added, “We are building our the Imo Digital City, which will host Nigeria’s first state-level Artificial Intelligence Institute, a Robotics and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) hub, Innovation Labs, Digital Learning Centres, and a Digital Entrepreneurship Centre which is designed to serve real needs and unlock real value.”
To the new graduates, the Governor said: “What you need, and what we are building are platforms, the tools, and the policies to ensure your skills find full expression. Your success is not a side benefit of our digital policy, it is the point of it.
“I urge you to use what you have learnt, not only to create work for yourselves, but to become creators of work for others. Be solution-minded. Build with purpose. Think of your local government area, your community, and your State and ask; how can technology make things better?”
He thanked his partners – the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, NITDA, Microsoft, Zinox Computers, Cisco, UNDP, US-MAC, and the University of California, Berkeley, for believing in what Imo is building up and for helping to deliver the programmes.
Earlier in his remarks, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda commended the Governor for the milestone, insisting that he is taking the right direction.
Prof Yilwatda emphasised that Governor Uzodimma is not just transforming Imo State, Nigeria, Africa and global economy today, but transforming the future economy by impacting digital skills to future youths which is crucial to the economy of the nation.
While disclosing that Imo has the highest number in the training of youths in digital skills in the entire nation, the APC National Chairman urged the graduates not to disappoint the Governor’s expectations.
“Be good representatives of Imo and Nigeria and make good use of the opportunity and leverage on the digital skills learnt as an enabler for Imo, Nigeria, Africa and the world,” he advised.
In his goodwill Message, the Minister for Industry ( State), Senator John Owan Enoh congratulated the Governor for coming up with the important initiative, stressing that the programme is not just huge, but “a testament to the foresighted leadership of Governor Uzodimma, which aligns with Nigeria’s development goals, digitization, and Industrial growth of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
Sen. Enoch pointed out that the Imo digital Skill-Up training is in line with the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) initiative of the President’s 8-point Agenda, which supports point 7 on acceleration of Nigeria through industry, manufacturing and digitization.
He described Governor Uzodimma as
a committed, sincere leader, who has contributed to the success of the programme, and admonished the trained graduates to use the skill they have acquired to promote Imo.
In her goodwill message, the Minister of Finance (State), Dr. Doris Anite-Uzoka expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the Governor for achieving this milestone, stressing that it is not just a “programme but a powerful one.”
She further commended the Governor for his commitment in supporting youth empowerment initiatives, saying it aligns with the economic growth and youth empowerment programme of President Tinubu through digital skills.
Minister for Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, represented by Dr. Mrs. Olodo, applauded the Governor and Imo people on the remarkable achievement.
He stated that the Ministry was pleased with the Governor’s foresight in the Skill-Up Imo Project, emphasising that he has created future for the country with it.
He reaffirms the Ministry’s commitment and unwavering support to every State of the Federation on digital skills.
Some of the representatives of development partners like UNDP, US Market Access Center ( USMAC), University of California Berkeley in attendance also had kind words for the Governor and the programme, and had expressed satisfaction partnering with him for the benefit of the society.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Commissioner for Digital Economy and E-Government, Dr. Chimezie Amadi expressed appreciation to the Governor for providing all the necessary support to ensure the graduation of the Cohort 3 Skill-Up Imo after intensive training.
He noted that the Cohort 3 Skill-Up Imo graduates were trained in different fields like; graphics design, digital modeling, printing, cyber security, CCTV maintenance and many more, which he said will give them the opportunity to compete globally.
He used the opportunity to thank the partners such as Zinox Computers, and Microsoft, assuring that with what is happening in Imo with the programme it will surely emerge as Africa’s Digital Skills Hub.
Amadi charged the graduates to make good use of the knowledge acquired for their own good and for the growth of the State, and announced the immediate commencement of the Cohort -4 training for interested students.
He also urged Imo youths to continue to partake in critical thinking so that the future world critical thinkers will emerge from Imo State in particular and Nigeria in general.
Highpoints of the ceremony was the presentation of Start-up Kits to some graduates by the Governor assisted by the Ministers.
