By Maduabuchi Dukor
The Anambra State subnational is experiencing a paradigm shift from a micro-underdeveloped zone in Nigeria to a technologically advanced space in Africa. The ingredients and article of faith in this transformative leap are appropriation and adaptation of the concept of Silicon valley caricatured as the Innovation District and Digital Tribe. This initiative, as captured in the vision of the Governor, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, CFR, is a scheme to equip one million Anambra state citizens, especially the youth, with the tools, training and opportunities to thrive in a global tech economy and transform the state to a productive political economy. The Solution Innovation District (SID) and the One Million Digital Tribe Initiative are, therefore, sustainable development goals of social and economic transformation that would re-jig Anambra State into a technological zone known only as Anambra, transcending the tales of policy somersaults of old Anambra State.
The SID serves as a state-of-the-art hub for digital education and innovation. It functions as a smart academy designed to foster a productive political economy by providing world-class training in various digital disciplines.The district is equipped with modern facilities and resources to support the development of a digitally literate and innovative populace. On the other hand, the One Million Digital Tribe Initiative is a comprehensive program aimed at training one million individuals in Anambra State in essential digital skills. The SID Academy is an online Learning Management System offering a wide range of courses, including: Basic Digital Skills (e.g., Microsoft Office, Internet Safety),Business-Focused Digital Skills (e.g., Digital Marketing, Graphic Design, SEO), and Advanced Coding Programs (e.g., Frontend, Backend, Fullstack, Mobile App. Code Anambra is a specialized software development training program focusing on areas such as Product Design, Frontend Development, Backend Development, Fullstack Development, and Mobile App Development. This program aims to empower Anambra’s youth with advanced coding skills and opportunities in the global tech industry.
The Solution Innovation District (SID) and the One Million Digital Tribe Initiative are short and long term development objectives. It’s a plan to equip residents, especially youth, with free digital skills, open up employment opportunities and reduce reliance on traditional jobs, fostering economic resilience. Digital skills training would enable individuals to create tech-driven businesses, investments, startups, and innovations, supporting budding entrepreneurs to build solutions that address local and global challenges. It fosters digital inclusion, creates job and drives economic growth and development in Anambra state.
With the innovation district and the digital tribe, Anambra state has boldly kickstarted the Dubai’s Digital Transformation Initiatives (Emirati Training Academy) in mobile application development, entrepreneurship, and digital skills. In collaboration with Microsoft, Digital Dubai had launched an AI skills program to empower government employees. The Anambra question is ,therefore, not an inordinate pattern of scientific development as it is also a prototype of the UK government’s Digital Strategy to harness digital technology for economic growth and innovation. The strategy includes investments in digital infrastructure and technology hubs, which made Britain a global leader in digital business. As in Anambra state, Western Sydney, Australia , tertiary education institutions and businesses had collaborated to offer courses focusing on skills needed for advanced manufacturing, such as reverse engineering, robotics, and digital twin modeling. The initiative aims to enhance manufacturing capabilities and job creations both in Anambra state and in the West.
Like the Dubai and western models, the Anambra government targets citizenship empowerment and economic development through digital skills. While Anambra state focuses on training in Coding, digital marketing, app development, Dubai and the western models focus on Mobile app development, AI skills and Advanced manufacturing, digital infrastructure respective. Unlike Dubai that collaborates with Microsoft and Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, Anambra state seeks collaboration with Local Governments and educational institutions while the West collaborates with industries and educational institutions. An Anambra sustainable development goal initiative and domestication in this digital and innovation program would, therefore, enhance economic growth and foster job creation.
The SID and One Million Digital Tribe Initiative in Anambra State align closely with Dubai’s digital transformation strategies and Western development models. All these initiatives emphasize the importance of digital skills in driving economic growth, fostering innovation, and creating job opportunities. By focusing on training the youth and residents in digital competencies, these programs aim to build a knowledge-driven economy and prepare the workforce for future challenges.
• Prof. Dukor is president/Editor-in-Chief of ESSENCE LIBRARY(Cultural and Scientific Development Center), Department of Philosophy, UNIZIK