Imo state Governor, Hope Uzodimma. Photo/HopeUzodimma01
Since assuming office in 2020, Governor Hope Uzodimma has propelled Imo State into a new era of digital innovation, with the creation of the Imo State Ministry of Digital Economy and E-Government (IMDEEG) standing as a landmark achievement.
Under this ministry, Uzodimma’s achievements speak for themselves through the tangible impact felt across the state. From tackling youth unemployment to investments in digital infrastructure, Uzodimma’s administration has leveraged this ministry to drive measurable change in Imo.
A flagship achievement of Uzodimma’s administration is the SkillUpImo, a human capacity building programme of IMDEEG to empower Imo youths with critical Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) skills. The programme, launched to close the digital skills gap and unemployment, is targeted at training 300,000 youths, with 40,000 already trained in two cohorts and a third ongoing.
To make the programme’s graduands industry-ready, they are provided with startup kits to ply their trade and engage in remote work or freelancing. This intervention has altered the story for Imo youths, who previously sought opportunities in urban hubs like Lagos and Abuja. Today, they set up livelihoods in Imo, which drive its economic growth.
The Uzodimma government also partnered key industry players in the global digital ensuring that SkillUpImo graduands see their training translate into opportunities. One of the standout efforts in this regard is the Techosphere freelancing platform, launched under IMDEEG’s guidance. This platform has connected over 1,000 youths to remote employment opportunities with local and international clients.
Strategic partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has given 1,000 SkillUpImo graduands opportunities for placement in tech-driven industries across the state.
Uzodimma also facilitated a landmark technical partnership between the United States Market Access Center (USMAC), a leading Silicon Valley-based startup accelerator, and Imo Digital City Limited to establish digital startups and innovation hubs to drive digital transformation in the state.
The partnership with U.S.-MAC to train founders in the startup space is the first with any sub-national. In the deal, U.S.-MAC will invest $15 million to drive digital transformation in Imo.
The governor further expanded these prospects through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the European Digital SME Alliance. This agreement allows Imo’s digitally skilled citizens to contribute to foreign companies, strengthening the state’s economic ties on a global scale and offering high-income earning opportunities to upskilled Imolites.
Closer home, graduands have found their footings in prominent tech firms and blue chip companies across the country honing their skills and delivering values to their employers. This achievement fulfils the SkillUpImo target of linking 60 per cent of its participants to high-paying jobs, demonstrating Uzodimma’s commitment to reducing unemployment through targeted skill application.
SkillUpImo graduates have sparked a wave of entrepreneurial activity, giving rise to a vibrant startup ecosystem in Imo. Tech startups such as WritersGig.com, SMFEST, SiliconAfrica.org, Diskox.com, Adminting, Vox Populi Networks, Basetech Hub, Monapp, StarlearnAI, Cafe One, Susiegraphix, Uniqueaugusta Cleaning Services etc have taken root, each contributing to job creation and economic vitality. This surge in innovation has transformed Imo into a hub where digital creativity flourishes, and a breeding ground for new ideas and enterprises.
Uzodimma’s unwavering dedication to this ecosystem has transformed job creation from a promise to a future-defining reality for Imo. By building an ecosystem of digital Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), he has laid the groundwork for sustainable growth, with these startups standing the chance of surviving in the long run.
To augment these efforts, he has encouraged Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) with tech bodies like Microsoft, CISCO and HP. Such partnerships have introduced pragmatic Information and Communication Technology (ICT) solutions into agriculture, health and education, enhancing efficiency in these key sectors.
The governor’s dream of a digitally connected Imo is evident through provision of enabling environment that supports private-sector led investments in ICT infrastructure. The Imo Digital City project is an attestation to this. When completed, the project is expected to operate as a tech innovation hub, hosting startups, training facilities and digital businesses, all geared towards propelling Imo to the frontline of technological advancement.
Similarly vital is the roll-out of broadband connectivity across the state, a priority that has provided a stable Internet connection to businesses, schools and government institutions. The government has led the build-out of fibre highways, taking the lead on flagship projects such as the launch of Airtel 5G technology in three local councils. Project 774 has effectively increased broadband coverage to seven local councils, while the state-licensed Heartland Fibre Optics Company enabled connection in three more.
Through these ventures, the urban-rural gap has been effectively closed, making even remote communities, hitherto cut off from basic communication, active participants in the digital economy, thus fulfilling a very important 21st-century imperative for universal digital access.
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The governor has redefined Imo public administration through a robust e-governance framework, which prioritises efficiency and transparency. The introduction of electronic data management systems streamlined government operations, significantly reducing the bureaucracy that once slowed service delivery. Alongside this, digital identity cards for government officials have enhanced accountability and coordination, creating a more cohesive administrative structure.
The soon-to-be-launched MyImo app represents a bold step forward, offering Imolites a centralised platform to access a range of services from tax payments to permit applications, while keeping them informed about government programmes and incentives.
In partnership with the World Bank, the state’s Land Information System (LIS) is digitising land records with geospatial technology, tackling long-standing issues like ownership disputes and processing inefficiencies.
A free National Identification Number (NIN) enrolment drive has also brought thousands of Imolites into the digital fold, connecting them to many digital transformation-inspired opportunities.
Today, a substantial portion of Imolites grasp the concept of a smart economy, with digital literacy evolving from an unfamiliar idea into a widely embraced goal. This transformation reflects Uzodimma’s success in making technology a household aspiration, turning “digital” into a buzzword that resonates across the state.
For all these, the governor has been awarded by different institutions. Most recently, President Bola Tinubu acknowledged Uzodimma’s pioneering role in fostering tech startups and supporting small businesses, bestowing upon him the Digital SME Award.
Credit:The Guardian