The Abia State government has approved the employment of 50 outstanding graduates of the TechRise Information Communication Technology programme into the state civil service. Governor Alex Otti made the announcement during the TechRise Cohort 2 graduation ceremony held in Umuahia.
Otti directed the Head of Service to begin the documentation process, noting that the employment would follow due process and require valid credentials from the selected beneficiaries. He explained that the employment embargo in the state was temporarily lifted to accommodate the 50 graduates and would be reinstated immediately after the completion of the exercise.
The governor also announced that 849 graduates of the TechRise programme would receive laptops to support their professional growth. He added that the best-performing participants would receive an additional N100,000 cash reward for outstanding performance.
In the spirit of the festive season, Otti further approved a N50,000 Christmas support fund for each graduate and directed that transportation be provided to convey them to their respective local government headquarters. He said the TechRise initiative reflected his administration’s firm belief that the future of Abia State depended on the creativity and potential of its youth.
According to him, the graduation ceremony increased the total number of beneficiaries trained under the TechRise programme in the last 12 months to 1,359. The governor said the graduates would play key roles in providing critical manpower for the state’s ongoing digital transformation agenda.
Otti described TechRise as a strategic investment in human capital designed to promote innovation, job creation and efficient service delivery across Abia. He said the participants acquired advanced digital skills in full-stack development, cybersecurity, mobile app development, data analysis and Artificial Intelligence engineering.
He encouraged the graduates to keep improving their skills and to use their knowledge to advance Abia’s economy. The governor commended relevant ministries and the 17 local government councils for their collaboration, which he said contributed to the success of the programme.
The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Uzor Nwachukwu, described TechRise as an advanced digital skills initiative for young people in the state. He said the project was implemented jointly by the state government and the local government councils in partnership with LearnFactory Nigeria.
The Commissioner for Science, Technology and Innovation, Mr David Kalu, advised the graduates to take advantage of policies such as the Abia Startup Law to promote innovation and entrepreneurship. “Yes, you are now qualified for good jobs, and I encourage you to pursue them, but I also challenge you to think bigger and think to start up something new,” Kalu said.
Similarly, the Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Mr Nwaobilor Ananaba, described the graduates as agents of change who should apply their skills to become job creators in the state and the nation.
The Chief Executive Officer of LearnFactory Nigeria, Mr Chibueze Ukegbu, who also serves as the TechRise coordinator, said the programme focused on building competence in skills, leadership and entrepreneurship. He expressed confidence that the initiative had refined the graduates into better individuals capable of making meaningful contributions to societal growth.
The event featured project presentations, certificate awards and a minute of silence in honour of a deceased participant, Princewill Ogbunna.
