Otti Awards Automatic Employment To 19 ICT Graduates
In a groundbreaking move aimed at redefining youth empowerment in Abia State, Governor Alex Otti has awarded automatic employment to 19 outstanding graduates of the TechRise ICT training programme.
The announcement was made during the programme’s graduation ceremony held on Saturday at the JAAC Secretariat in Umuahia.
The beneficiaries, selected purely on merit, emerged as the best performers across multiple training groups and award categories.
Governor Otti explained that 16 were identified as top performers from their training groups, while three additional award recipients were added to bring the total to 19.
“There are about 16 of you in those three groups. I also saw that there are three of you who received awards now. And that takes the number to 19,” the governor noted during his address.
Governor Otti directed the State Head of Service, Mr Benson Ojeikere, to process the beneficiaries’ employment documentation immediately, with a resumption date set for Monday, May 12, 2025.
Beyond the job offers, the state government also distributed laptop computers to 509 other TechRise participants to support self-reliance and entrepreneurship.
The gesture, according to the governor, is part of a broader strategy to equip young people with practical tools and digital competencies rather than short-term handouts.
“Rather than giving you fish, we want to give you all the necessary instruments and the training so that you can catch fish yourself,” he stated.
He also took a swipe at past administrations, emphasising a departure from previous empowerment models like “keke” distribution in favour of tech-driven solutions.
“Gone are the days of keke empowerment. Today, the empowerment is to use what you have. There is nobody that you can write off,” Otti added.
The TechRise programme, implemented by LearnFactory Nigeria, provided over 500 Abia youths with intensive training over a three-month period in key digital fields such as artificial intelligence, digital animation, and other globally relevant ICT skills.
According to officials, a second phase of the programme is already underway, targeting an additional 850 trainees—50 from each of the state’s 17 local government areas.
To ensure the long-term impact of the initiative, the governor has mandated the Chief Strategy Officer to develop a follow-up mechanism that will track the progress of the trainees and help them connect with relevant institutions and job opportunities in the tech industry.
“The skills that you have acquired today can take you to places. You are not limited to this space because of the knowledge that you have acquired,” the governor said, emphasising the global nature of digital skills.
Also speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Nwachukwu, hailed the initiative as transformative. “Abia TechRise is not just a training programme; it is a movement,” he declared.
Engr. Chibueze Ukaegbu, CEO of LearnFactory Nigeria, emphasised that the programme was tailored to meet current industry demands. “The training focused on seven globally relevant digital skills aligned with current tech trends,” he said.
One of the beneficiaries, Mr Samuel Uchendu, expressed gratitude on behalf of the participants, highlighting the economic potential of the skills acquired. “The knowledge we gained, especially in AI and animation, will definitely enhance our economy,” he said.
Otti Awards Automatic Employment To 19 ICT Graduates is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
