Otti urges Abia young people to develop online expertise, warning against over-reliance on qualifications.

Abia State Governor Dr. Alex Otti has urged youths participating in the state government's advanced digital skills programme to look beyond their certificates and focus on acquiring digital skills to thrive in the 21st-century economy.

n

This charge was given while flagging off the Techrise Cohort 3, a 3-month programme aimed at empowering 850 youths with advanced digital skills.

n

Represented by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Uzo Nwachukwu, Otti encouraged the youths to seize the opportunity to become entrepreneurs, innovators, and job creators.

n

The Governor assured that he is collaborating with tech hubs to provide post-workshop and mentorship programmes for the youths, emphasizing the importance of hands-on problem-solving skills and deep competence.

n

Otti noted that the digital marketing strategies learned through the programme could potentially transform a local business into a multi-national brand, highlighting the significance of the programme as a strategic investment in the state's youths.

n

The Governor described Techrise as more than just a training programme, but a vital investment in the state's greatest assets, which are its youths, in an era where digital literacy is a basic necessity for survival and success.

n

He stated that the global economy is rapidly shifting towards automation, artificial intelligence, and global digital solutions, and the goal of Abia Tech Christ is to transform the youth from passive consumers of technology into active creators of digital value.

n

The administration has partnered with tech hubs and corporate organisations to provide post-workshop and post-mentorship, internship placements, and freelance opportunities, as training alone is not enough, according to Otti.

n

The participants will be exposed to high-demand skills, including software development, data analytics, digital marketing, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity, among others, and Otti urged the youths to view the programme as a launchpad for their careers.

n

Speaking on behalf of the council chairmen in the state, the chairman of Aba South council, Hon. Obialo Anyanwu, noted that TechRise is a higher digital training programme of the governor in partnership with the local governments in the state.

n

Anyanwu added that the advanced digital training empowers every TechRise graduate to be self-employed, highlighting the programme's potential for economic empowerment.

n

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Lady Oge Maduka, disclosed that the theme of the programme is “AI FIRST”, describing the training as another bold step in the Governor’s vision and commitment to prioritising youth empowerment.

n

Maduka stated that the cohort is designed to teach technology, shape thinkers, innovators, problem solvers, and future leaders, and expose participants to practical industry-relevant learning in areas such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, cybersecurity, product design, and software development.

n

According to Maduka, the programme aims to make Abia youths active creators, leaders, and drivers of the digital future, rather than just standing at the edge of global innovation.

n

The CEO of LearnFactory Nigeria and technical coordinator of the TechRise project, Engineer Chibueze Ukaegbu, said that the youths will be exposed to exceptional technical skills in various areas of digital technologies that are in demand across the globe.

n

Ukaegbu thanked the governor for his investments in the lives of the young people in the state and urged the participants to make good use of the opportunity.

n

One of the participants, Miss Chidera Igwe, thanked Governor Otti for his decision to empower them with digital skills and expressed the hope that they will be exposed to various digital skills that would help them improve in various aspects of tech.