Imo State’s youth empowerment initiative, SkillUp Imo, is positioning its fifth cohort to focus on artificial intelligence, following growing international recognition at the 12th Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD-12).
The programme was presented at the forum held between April 28 and 30, 2026, at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) headquarters, where the Special Adviser to Governor Hope Uzodinma on Youth Development, Eric Uwakwe, represented Nigeria.
Speaking on “Youth, Innovation and the Future of Work in Africa,” Uwakwe highlighted the programme’s expanding role in digital literacy, technical skills development, and AI readiness among young people. He noted that more than 40,000 youths have been trained across Cohorts One to Four, with a significant number transitioning into employment and entrepreneurship.
“SkillUp Imo has become a model for scalable youth development driven by technology and innovation,” Uwakwe said, while calling for stronger global partnerships to accelerate the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Agenda 2063.
He also referenced the ongoing construction of the SkillUp Imo Digital City in Owerri, which is expected to function as a regional innovation hub with coding academies, startup incubators, and certification centres supported by global tech partners.
Delegates from Kenya, Rwanda, and South Africa commended the initiative, with a UNDP Africa representative describing it as “a replicable framework.”
Cohort Five will prioritise AI applications in agriculture, green technology, and the creative economy.
