As the SkillUp Imo programme continues to make waves, a crucial question emerges: What happens next? A recent documentary on AIT showcased the initiative’s impact, highlighting its success in equipping Imo youths with cutting-edge digital skills.
Launched in 2022 under Governor Hope Uzodinma’s administration, SkillUp Imo was designed to train 300,000 young people in Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) skills by 2026. With over 40,000 beneficiaries trained so far in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, software development, blockchain, fintech, and more, the initiative has received both local and international acclaim.
Tech giants like Microsoft, CISCO, and the European DIGITAL SME Alliance have partnered with the programme, opening global job opportunities for graduates. Testimonies from beneficiaries like Precious Ikoku, who now earns through video editing, and Jim Temple, who secured a role with Wakanow, reinforce the programme’s transformative potential.
However, while SkillUp Imo has changed lives, questions about sustainability linger. Will this initiative outlive the administration that birthed it, or will it suffer the fate of many government programmes that fade away once political priorities shift?
Governor Uzodinma has a unique opportunity to solidify Imo State as Nigeria’s leading tech talent hub. Beyond politics, investing in long-term private sector collaborations and international partnerships could ensure SkillUp Imo remains a permanent pillar of economic transformation in the state.
For now, SkillUp Imo stands as a beacon of digital hope. But whether it evolves into a legacy or fizzles into history depends on the decisions made today.
