The up to date workforce is present process a seismic shift, transitioning from a reliance on handbook labour in the direction of a pronounced demand for digital proficiency. This paradigm shift, catalysed by the inexorable rise of synthetic intelligence (AI) and automation, necessitates a proactive method to workforce improvement to make sure future financial prosperity.
The World Financial Discussion board’s 2025 Way forward for Jobs Report underscores this urgency, projecting the displacement of 92 million jobs whereas concurrently creating 170 million new roles, largely contingent upon digital literacy.
Recognising this impending transformation, the Imo State authorities beneath the management of Governor Hope Uzodimma, has taken a pioneering stride with the institution of SkillUpImo, a complete human capability and digital abilities literacy programme.
This initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry of Digital Financial system and e-Authorities, represents a strategic funding within the state’s human capital, positioning Imo on the forefront of the digital revolution in Nigeria, Africa, and the world.
Governor Hope Uzodimma’s administration has demonstrated a exceptional dedication to youth empowerment and technological development. Recognising the pivotal position of youth in driving financial progress and societal progress, the federal government has prioritised leveraging know-how to fight unemployment and place Imo State as a pacesetter within the digital financial system.
Imo possesses a wealth of human capital, boasting a vibrant youth demographic, a sturdy academic infrastructure, and a deeply ingrained entrepreneurial spirit within the individuals each domestically and out of doors the state. The SkillUpImo undertaking, an bold enterprise geared toward equipping 300,000 Imolites with in-demand 4IR abilities between 2022 and 2026, embodies this dedication. By fostering a digitally proficient workforce, SkillUpImo seeks to unlock the state’s immense potential, remodeling Imo into a worldwide hub for IT expertise and attracting important tech-driven investments.
Nevertheless, the SkillUpImo undertaking transcends a mere abilities acquisition initiative; it represents a complete technique to create a digital workforce able to competing on a worldwide scale. Because the world embraces the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the demand for digital abilities is skyrocketing.
By 2030, a staggering 41 per cent of employers will downsise their workforce, with 39 per cent of job abilities changing into out of date. This underscores the pressing want for steady upskilling and reskilling to stay related within the evolving job market.
The worldwide digital abilities hole poses a major problem, affecting each people and organisations worldwide. Roughly 87 per cent of organisations globally report expertise shortages or anticipate going through them within the close to future. Many positions, notably in know-how, stay unfilled as a result of a scarcity of certified candidates.
Moreover, fast technological developments are rendering almost 49 per cent of workers’ present abilities out of date by the top of 2025. The know-how sector is especially impacted, with a extreme scarcity of pros in rising fields corresponding to AI, knowledge science, and cybersecurity.
The implications of neglecting the digital abilities hole are dire. By the top of 2025, the worldwide financial output may undergo a staggering $2.5 trillion loss as a result of decreased productiveness and stifled innovation. Over 54 per cent of workers globally require important upskilling to satisfy the evolving calls for of their job roles, emphasising the crucial for steady studying and adaptation throughout industries.
Previous to the Uzodimma administration, Imo State predominantly relied on industrial or handbook labor, leading to a comparatively low provide of tech expertise. This poses a major financial threat as improvement expands and new industries emerge, creating a requirement for lots of of hundreds of expert staff.
With out the mandatory tech know-how and digital literacy, Imo youths threat being left behind within the job market, resulting in additional unemployment and the inflow of tech expertise from outdoors the state.
With foresight and hindsight born out of pure visionary management, SkillUpImo was launched not solely to upskill and reskill Imolites for native employment but in addition to organize them for the worldwide tech workforce. By equipping Imo’s youth with in-demand digital abilities, the undertaking goals to place Imo as a go-to vacation spot for tech expertise and a hub of digital innovation.
This strategic transfer won’t solely profit Imo’s financial system but in addition contribute to the worldwide workforce by offering a pool of extremely expert and aggressive people.
SkillUpImo strategically focuses on important 4IR domains corresponding to software program improvement, synthetic intelligence, knowledge science, cybersecurity, laptop appreciation, and cloud computing, recognising these because the pillars of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the bedrock of contemporary economies.
So far, the programme has achieved important milestones. With the profitable completion of cohorts 1, 2 and cohort 3 presently underway, over 40,000 youths have obtained coaching in various areas encompassing cybersecurity, synthetic intelligence, cellular app improvement, software program improvement, blockchain, fintech, entrepreneurship, and digital advertising.
Notably, the programme demonstrates a dedication to inclusivity, with 43 per cent male and 53 per cent feminine participation ,and a pair of per cent participation from people with disabilities.
SkillUpImo has cast strategic partnerships with world know-how leaders, enhancing the programme’s influence and world attain. Collaborations with Microsoft (Wootlab Basis) and Cisco Networking Academy present entry to internationally recognised certifications, and improve their employability prospects.
Moreover, the Memorandum of Understanding with the European Digital SME Alliance facilitates a mutually helpful change, connecting Imo State expertise with employment alternatives in Europe whereas concurrently enriching the West African tech ecosystem.
The programme extends past classroom coaching, fostering a vibrant ecosystem of innovation. The institution of devoted innovation hubs and facilities supplies trainees with entry to mentorship, superior instruments, and funding alternatives, empowering them to translate their abilities into tangible options.
The ministry actively encourages innovation via the organisation of hackathons and tech-focused occasions, corresponding to Hack4FUTO, which function platforms for collaboration, creativity, and the event of modern options to real-world challenges. These initiatives have fostered a thriving entrepreneurial setting, with notable startups like Technamedia rising as testaments to the programme’s success in nurturing younger expertise.
Recognising the significance of early publicity to know-how, the Ministry of Digital Financial system and e-Authorities extends its digital literacy programme to embody youthful learners. A specifically curated curriculum, aligned with the SkillUpImo framework, is applied throughout college holidays to introduce kids in fundamental and elementary colleges to elementary digital ideas.Dr Amadi is Imo State Commissioner for Digital Financial system and E-Authorities.
This initiative, grounded within the precept of “catch them younger,” equips younger minds with important abilities corresponding to laptop appreciation, introductory programming, and sport improvement.
By fostering a digital literacy basis at an early age, the programme goals to domesticate a era of digitally adept people who should not solely shoppers of know-how but in addition creators and innovators.
Being the primary state within the federation to fight socio-economic points like unemployment, amongst many different challenges confronted earlier than the present administration, Imo State has now emerged as a regional chief in workforce improvement, serving as a mannequin for different states throughout Nigeria.
Nevertheless, the programme goes past technical abilities improvement, additionally incorporating coaching in distant work and freelancing. This equips graduates with the flexibility to collaborate and ship providers for corporations worldwide, fostering location independence and increasing their incomes potential.
The Ministry’s dedication to this imaginative and prescient is additional exemplified by the launch of “Techosphere,” a devoted freelance platform connecting SkillUpImo graduates with distant tech gigs.
The SkillUpImo Venture has garnered widespread recognition for its modern method to equipping residents with in-demand digital abilities. This pioneering initiative has been lauded by stakeholders throughout the South-East area, culminating within the prestigious award for Greatest State MDA in ICT Human Capability Growth on the inaugural Nigeria Gov-Tech Public Service Awards.
Moreover, the strategic partnership with the European Digital SME Alliance positions Imo as a web exporter of expert expertise. SkillUpImo graduates, armed with in-demand abilities, are contributing to the worldwide tech panorama via distant work and on-site employment alternatives in Europe.
The success of the SkillUpImo Venture aligns seamlessly with the Federal Authorities’s Nationwide Digital Financial system Coverage and Technique (NDEPS), which goals to attain a $1 trillion digital financial system by 2030. By prioritising ability improvement and fostering a digitally empowered workforce, Imo State is making a major contribution to Nigeria’s broader digital financial system technique.
The Ministry of Digital Financial system and e-Authorities has actively cultivated public-private partnerships to drive this imaginative and prescient ahead. Collaborations with main know-how corporations corresponding to Microsoft, Konga, Zinox, and native tech companies have offered SkillUpImo graduates with worthwhile employment alternatives and entry to mentorship and assets.
Furthermore, Imo State is actively engaged in nationwide and worldwide tech boards, advocating for insurance policies that assist the expansion of the digital financial system. This proactive engagement ensures that Imo’s voice is heard in shaping Nigeria’s digital future and solidifies the state’s place as a key contributor to the nation’s technological development.
The digital revolution is reshaping the worldwide panorama, and Imo State is on the forefront of this transformation. The SkillUpImo Venture represents a visionary initiative that empowers residents, fosters innovation, and positions Imo as a key participant within the world digital financial system. By harnessing the potential of its youthful inhabitants, Imo State will not be solely shaping its personal future but in addition rising as a number one supply of expertise and innovation for the world. The journey has simply begun, and Imo State is poised to make its mark on the worldwide stage within the years to return.
