Imo to partner Huawei, Microsoft in second cohort of SkillUpImo project

The Imo state government says it is set to commence the second cohort of its digital skills acquisition programme — ‘SkillUpImo Challenge’ — in partnership with some global technology firms.

In a statement on Wednesday, Sandra Opara, the public relations officer of Imo’s ministry of digital economy and e-government, said the second cohort is a continuation of keeping with the vision of making the state the leading digital economy hub of the nation.

The state had graduated about 5,000 youths from the SkillupImo project — a digital empowerment programme — in the first cohort.

According to Opara, for the second segment, the state would partner with technology companies such as Cisco, Huawei, and Microsoft.

Imo would also partner with the National Business and Technical Examination Board (NABTEB) for certification and value optimisation of the programme.

“Already in cohort two, 15,000 Imolites are now jostling for 10,000 slots at the ongoing enrolment, a reflection of the realisation of the success of the cohort one training programme,” she said.

“The produced graduands are already monetising their skills as techpreneurs while others have been linked to various employment opportunities.”

Also speaking in the statement, Chimezie Amadi, commissioner for digital economy and e-government, said a pre-admission assessment has been conducted for over 15, 000 prospective trainees who registered for the digital skills training, which he said was oversubscribed.

“Unlike in cohort one, we had to conduct the pre-admission assessment to enable us to sieve the huge size of prospective trainees and ensure that only committed learners were admitted and enrolled in the right programme,”Amadi said.

“We learnt a lot of lessons in the course of managing cohort one and the introduction of pre-admission assessment is one of the ways designed to improve our processes to meet the programme objective and achieve the intended outcome.

“Pre-admission assessment tests on March 23, 2023, and had commenced issuing admission letters online from March 28, 2023, to successful candidates.

“Also, onboarding of admitted students is to be carried out on March 29, 2023, at the various designated centres while the orientation programme will hold online on March 31, 2023.”

Amadi also assured that the second cohort will be an enhanced learning experience for both learners and instructors during the programme, adding that extra centres have been provided.

“In cohort two, four additional learning centres: Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Imo Polytechnic Omuma, University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Umuagwo; and K. O Mbadiwe University, Ideato, have been established to complement the existing learning centres at the ministry of digital economy and e-government headquarters,” he added.

“These existing learning centres are Imo State University, Alvan Ikoku College of Education, Polytechnic Nekede, and Claretian University, all geared towards enhancing access to digital skills learning for Imo youths across the state.”