The Honourable Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, has joined the Executive Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, and thousands of young people to celebrate the third cohort graduation ceremony of SkillUp Imo — a transformative digital empowerment programme that has trained more than 50,000 young Nigerians, particularly indigenes of Imo State, in world-class digital skills.
The programme, which Dr. Uzoka-Anite helped to conceive, has added another 10,000 graduates to the growing pool of tech-savvy youth equipped with expertise in app development, data analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, fintech, digital marketing, cloud computing, and the Internet of Things (IoT).
Speaking at the event — which coincided with the International Day of the Girl Child — Dr. Uzoka-Anite expressed pride in the young women who have leveraged the opportunity to thrive in the digital economy.
“I am proud of our young girls who have taken advantage of this opportunity to upskill and reskill in the digital economy,” she said. “We remain committed to widening access, scholarships, and mentorship so that more girls can lead in STEM and shape the future of our region.”
Reaffirming her commitment to youth empowerment, Dr. Uzoka-Anite described SkillUp Imo as a model for inclusive digital transformation in Nigeria.
“Next, we go bigger for the region,” she declared, signaling plans to expand the initiative’s reach and impact beyond Imo State.
The Minister also commended Governor Hope Uzodimma for his unwavering support and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for strengthening subnational capacity to fund and scale impactful programmes like SkillUp Imo.
In his remarks, Governor Uzodimma applauded the graduates and reiterated his administration’s commitment to investing in human capital development.
“Today, we celebrate not just the graduates of SkillUp Imo, but the future of our state and nation,” he said. “This milestone is a testament to what we can achieve when we invest in our youth and empower them with the skills to succeed.”
With this achievement, Imo State continues to cement its position as a hub for digital innovation and talent development, paving the way for a smarter, more inclusive, and tech-driven future for generations to come.
