Ottis’ drive for digital excellence gains traction: 510 Abians empowered through specialised digital training
Ottis’ drive for digital excellence gains traction: 510 Abians empowered through specialised digital training
By Chukwuma Elvis
The focus of governance today aims to take advantage of an advanced digital world within the information age which has continued to evolve, expanding opportunities for those willing to move in the speed of this ongoing information technology revolution.
The government of Dr. Alex Otti is one driven by 21 century innovation particularly in science, technology and digital communication necessitating the focus on bringing Abia up to speed to be on the same league with societies already enjoying the full benefits of digital technology in a digital world.
As part of the overall drive to revamp education and learning in Abia after two and half decades of stagnation,the administration of Gov. Otti is moving at an immense speed to scale up the tech knowledge of Abians particularly the youths by taking advantage of interventions offered by International bodies such as the World Bank and the Federal Government to bridge an already existing and widening gap which if left unattended will continue to put Abia youths at a disadvantage.
Techrise is therefore an innovative training programme designed to raise the knowledge of digital technology among Abia youths. 510 Abia youths selected from across the 17 local government areas of the state, will over a period of three months beginning from the month of February be trained to gain advanced digital skills.
This is the government of Dr. Alex Otti embarking on meaningful, impactful and sustainable youth empowerment programmes unlike what was the case under past administrations’ when every once in a while a few youths will be gathered and given tricycles, motorcycles under the guise of youth empowerment programmes.
The official launch of the youth empowerment programme tagged “Techrise – Igniting Digital Excellence in Abia” took place simultaneously across the 3 Senatorial Zones of the state capturing a total of 510 participants – 30 persons from each local government – to be trained and provided with Laptops and token Financial grants at the conclusion of the digital skills acquisition programme.
Three centre’s undertook the launch of Techrise on the same day; Umuahia for Abia central, Ohafia for Abia North and Aba for Abia South, capturing the three Senatorial Zones of the state for an even spread of this laudable project under the innovative leadership of Gov. Otti.
This initiative is domiciled and coordinated by the Ministries of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Sports and Youth Development, Science, Technology and Innovation alongside the Abia State Orientation Agency for effective monitoring, sustainability and continuity. Being it’s maiden edition, more Abia youths will be captured by Techrise going into the future as fresh batches of students will benefit from the programme in subsequent editions.
The Ninety days training programme will impart digital skills to benefiting students in courses such as Full stack development in Javascript, Full stack development with Python, Digital Engineering, Digital Arts and Animation, Artificial intelligence and Prompt Engineering, Product management and UI/UX Design amongst others.
Participants after undergoing training in these courses will immediately gain skills to make them independent and not job seekers following certification. They will be empowered to be truly independent and self employed in a society were jobs are scarce owing to an over-saturation of the employment market.
It is worthy of note to mention that beneficiaries will be housed and feed adequately through the duration of the training programme while those opting to come from home, will be paid transport stipends to assist them with daily commute. Thus, the training is coming to beneficiaries absolutely free.
Beyond being independent, beneficiaries will also become trainers for the next generation as part of the overall efforts to ignite digital excellence in Abia. This ‘start-up seed’ is geared towards cascading the training to the local government level in subsequent phases after this first edition.
This is a true ‘Legacy Project’ as delivered by the government of Dr. Alex Otti and a lasting empowerment that lives with beneficiaries for a life time, with the gains transcending the initial beneficiaries, to those who will also learn from them. This is another significant hallmark of the New Abia as envisioned by the governor.
There is no gainsaying the fact that this is a globally acceptable standard for youth empowerment and human capital development. Beneficiaries are equipped with digital skills which are globally relevant and highly sought after by multinationals and the big brands, opening up a global vista to Abians to become professional Ambassadors for the state.
Indeed the administration of Gov. Otti has scored another major goal in it’s over all effort and drive to evolve a new Abia going into the future. This is begining to pay off with a gradual transformation in the mind set of the average Abian because the government through many innovative intervention programmes has revived the belief that something good can come to the people through good governance.
Technology will rise in Abia, igniting digital excellence in God’s own state thereby securing a brighter future for ‘Abians’ and generations yet to be born.
Chukwuma Elvis, public affairs commentator.