Digital Economy: Govt targets 300,000 jobs for Imo youths

 

.As indigenes in UK laud Uzodimma on infrastructure, good governance

 

 

 

Jobs exceeding 300,000 awaits youths from Imo State in no distant time as the government of Sen. Hope Uzodimma puts machinery in motion to tap into the global benefits of Digital Economy.

 

At the Imo State Executive Council Meeting held on Wednesday and presided over by Governor Uzodimma, a Council Memo on Imo Youth Digital Training and Empowerment Scheme as submitted by the Chief Economic Adviser to the Governor, Prof. Kenneth Amaeshi was approved.

 

Addressing newsmen at the end of the Council meeting, the Chief Political Adviser and Head Political Bureau, Barr. Enyinna Onuegbu, said that the Memo  was brought to the Exco by Prof. Amaeshi “in conjunction with the Commissioner for Labour, Employment and Productivity, Chief Ford Ozumba.”

 

“The objective of which is to have about 300,000 Imo youths pass through a training that will make them digitally sound and guarantee their expertise in digital technology and other training possibilities.”

 

Onuegbu added: “In addition, the training will increase their qualifications, by guaranteeing their knowledge as they will become employable as well as employers of labour.”

 

Flanked by the Commissioner for Labour, Employment and Productivity, Ford Ozumba, newly sworn-in Commissioner,  Jerry Egemba and the Chief Economic Adviser to the Governor, Prof. Amaeshi, Onuegbu noted that the State Government is planning a digital training programme for thousands of youths in Imo State to be held soon, and that the Exco constituted an Inter-Ministerial Committee to drive the project.

 

Members of the Committee include:  Chief Economic Adviser to the Governor, the Commissioner for Labour, Employment and Productivity, the Commissioner for Science and Technology and the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning.

 

Other members are: the Commissioner for Youths and Sports and the Chief Political Adviser and Head of Political Bureau.

 

The EXCO further mandated the Committee to work out the framework – modalities,  logistics, time-frame and expenditure profile for the project.

 

The Chief Political Adviser in his contribution said: “The project when realized will be very beneficial to the teaming Imo youths, especially those who are likely to benefit from it not only as employees but will turn out to be employers of labour.

 

“The beneficiaries will contribute to the economy of Imo State as they will be working for International organizations while living in Imo State and paying their taxes and bills.”

 

He explained that the Governor assured the Exco that well established entrepreneurs and computer gurus such as Zinox Computers and the Federal Minister of Communication and Digital Economy have all already keyed into in the training project of Imo youths as far as the digital world economy is concerned.

However, Imo people resident in the United Kingdom have expressed satisfaction with the development initiatives of Governor Hope Uzodimma, especially in the area of road revolution and good governance.

 

In a communique after a meeting in London, the indigenes under the aegis of Oru Nation in UK, commended the governor for the infrastructure transformation he has executed since he assumed office.

 

The communique endorsed by the Chairman of Oru Nation in UK, Emmanuel Aghaluke, the Patron, Jude Ibe and the facilitator of the meeting, Benji Agwunobi, among others, however urged Uzodimma to adopt more of diplomacy against force in the resolution of the security crisis in the state, especially in Orlu zone.

 

They were happy that Governor Uzodimma is arresting the infrastructure deficit which hitherto bedeviled the State.

 

“We are happy with the information from home that bad roads, dilapidated and moribund industries are being addressed, the communique said.

 

They averred that Imo State will make rapid progress in development if the security crisis is contained.

 

While promising to sensitize all Imo residents in the UK concerning the efforts of the government in recent times, they pledged to support Governor  Uzodimma to do more for the State.

 

Earlier in his speech, the Imo State  Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Hon Declan Emelumba told the gathering that Governor Uzodimma has changed the landscape of Imo through infrastructure and good governance.

 

He informed them that four key roads that had defied the efforts of previous administrations in the State since 1999 to fix have been handled by  Governor Uzodimma.

 

He listed the roads to include: Owerri- Orlu and Owerri-Okigwe roads which have now been dualized and completed and Owerri-Mbaise-Umuahia road and Orlu-Mgbe-Akokwa-Uga road which are under construction.

 

Emelumba said those four roads are the fulcrum of economic development of the State, hence the attention paid them by Governor Uzodimma.

 

He also informed them that the Imo State University Teaching Hospital which had collapsed had been revived by Governor Uzodimma with state of the art equipment and requisite personnel.

 

According to him, for the first time in five years, the hospital has been able to graduate medical doctors and perform other functions expected of a tertiary health institution.

 

The Commissioner also told them that the governor has begun the rehabilitation of key industries abandoned by previous administrations.

 

He said such industries include Adapalm Nig Ltd, Imo  Standard Shoe Company and the Owerri Water Works.

 

He said Governor Uzodimma has attracted a refinery to the State as well as creating a conducive environment that led to the return of Shell Petroleum Development Company to Imo.

 

Emelumba noted that the more than 100 roads built by Governor Uzodimma within two years in office was meant to stimulate the economy of the Imo State.

 

He said contrary to what the opposition has been promoting, Imo State is actually safe for investment.

 

Emelumba therefore urged Imo indigenes in the Diaspora to invest in the State and support Governor Uzodimma to rebuild the State.

 

According to him, the transparent manner the government is being run under Governor Uzodimma does not condone any form of corruption.

 

Others who attended the event included leaders and patrons of Oru Nation from across cities in the United Kingdom.