Imo State has expanded its SkillUpImo digital training programme to 20,000 participants for Cohort 4 following a surge in applications, with authorities reaffirming that admission was strictly merit-based.
The Commissioner for Digital Economy and E-Governance, Dr Chimezie Amadi, disclosed this during a live session with participants, noting that the expansion was approved by Governor Hope Uzodimma in response to the overwhelming interest in the initiative.
He said the programme initially targeted 10,000 participants but received about 35,000 applications, necessitating an upward review of the intake.
Amadi said, “His Excellency, Governor Hope Uzodimma, approved the addition of 10,000 candidates to the programme, expanding the total intake beyond the originally admitted 10,000.”
The commissioner stressed that despite the increase, the integrity of the selection process was not compromised, maintaining that all admitted candidates emerged through a transparent and merit-driven system.
According to him, the admission list, published on individual dashboards, reflected only candidates who met the stipulated requirements and performed well in the pre-admission assessment.
“No form of personal connection influenced the admission. The process was free, fair and transparent, and strictly based on merit,” he stated.
Providing further insight, Amadi explained that the programme offers 23 digital courses, with a significant imbalance in applicants’ preferences, particularly in graphics design.
He said, “Sixty per cent of the applicants indicated a preference for graphics design, and many within that group recorded high examination scores.”
To address this, the management introduced differentiated cut-off marks to ensure a balanced distribution across courses.
“For graphics design, a minimum score threshold of 85 per cent was set, while applicants for all other courses were required to attain a minimum score of 50 per cent,” he added.
He noted that the decision was aimed at accommodating top-performing candidates across various disciplines while preventing a situation where a single course dominates the cohort.
On programme requirements, the commissioner reiterated that participation in the orientation exercise remains compulsory for all admitted candidates.
“Any candidate whose name appears on the published admission list but fails to attend the orientation will automatically forfeit their admission,” he warned.
Amadi described the orientation as a critical stage that would provide participants with a clear understanding of the programme’s structure from commencement to graduation.
He also highlighted the certification opportunities available to successful participants, including Cisco and Microsoft certifications, as well as a joint SkillUpImo certification in collaboration with the University of California, Berkeley.
Other credentials include Cisco Networking Academy certifications from levels one to three and Cham-Training International Skills Development certification, particularly for those in data-related fields.
