Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, has approved automatic employment for 50 exceptional graduates of the TechRise Cohort 2 programme, marking another major step in the state’s drive toward digital transformation and youth empowerment.
The Governor made the announcement on Saturday, December 20, during the TechRise Cohort 2 graduation ceremony held at the JAAC Building, Secretariat, Umuahia. The event celebrated 849 young Abians who successfully completed a three-month intensive training in cutting-edge 21st-century digital skills.
Governor Otti explained that the automatic employment offer will place the selected 50 outstanding graduands into relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) within the Abia State Civil Service, subject to the completion of required civil service documentation.
“I am pleased that the Head of Service is present. This means the embargo on employment has been lifted specifically for the engagement of 50 TechRise graduates. Once that process is concluded, the embargo will be reinstated,” the Governor stated, directing that the necessary documentation be submitted by Monday.
The Governor disclosed that a total of 1,359 youths have now benefited from the TechRise programme within the past year, forming a pool of skilled manpower capable of supporting the state’s digital governance agenda. According to him, TechRise was designed to build an elite workforce of competent IT professionals who can deploy innovative solutions to advance Abia’s development goals.
Governor Otti emphasized that his administration is restructuring the state’s service delivery system to operate efficiently through a robust digital infrastructure. The objective, he noted, is to reduce reliance on paper-based processes, provide 24-hour public services, and significantly improve turnaround time in government operations.
He further revealed that the state is investing heavily in broadband expansion, adding that the Umuahia Dedicated Internet Access and Wide Area Network project has been completed and is already functional across government offices in the capital city.
Highlighting recent infrastructure initiatives, the Governor referenced the Abia State DUCT Infrastructure Development Project launched in Aba, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to making every community in Abia economically viable.
“All our interventions whether in roads, education, sanitation, security, or technology are geared toward a single goal: making Abia the best and truly number one,” Governor Otti said.
In a show of goodwill, the Governor approved a ₦50,000 Christmas package for each of the 849 graduands and directed the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to provide transportation allowances to enable them return to their respective local government headquarters. Graduands who won special prizes were also awarded ₦100,000 each.
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A minute of silence was observed in honour of a TechRise trainee, Mr. Princewill Ogbonnia, who passed away days before the graduation ceremony. Governor Otti expressed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.
Several commissioners, including those overseeing Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Science, Technology and Innovation, and Youth and Sports Development, praised the Governor’s unwavering commitment to youth development. They urged the graduates to continue improving their skills and leveraging technology for personal and societal growth.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Lady Oge Maduka, noted that the programme went beyond technical training, instilling leadership, discipline, and resilience in participants.
Earlier, the CEO of Learn Factory and TechRise Programme Coordinator, Mr. Chibueze Ukaegbu, commended the Governor’s dedication to ICT development in Abia and encouraged graduands to maximize the opportunities provided by their new skills.
Speaking on behalf of the graduands, Miss Chinwemeri Benjamin expressed gratitude to Governor Otti for the ICT training, laptops, and other support, noting that the programme has positioned them for economic independence.
The event, attended by top state and local government officials, featured testimonials from previous TechRise graduates who showcased innovative applications developed to solve real-life problems, as well as the presentation of certificates to Cohort 2 graduands.