On a day 15,000 youths graduated with digital skills in Imo and were empowered by the state government, Chairman of Linox Computers, Chief Leo Stan Ekeh, has predicted a boom of millionaires in the state.
Trained under the Skillsup Imo digital programme, the 15,000 youths received laptops and other equipment from Governor Hope Uzodimma to enable them to be self-reliant.
At the ceremony in Owerri attended by many dignitaries, including the Minister of Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, Chief Ekeh described what Uzodimma did as phenomenal and unprecedented which was driven by sheer vision.
According to him, apart from taking the youths off the job market, Uzodimma has started the process of creating millionaires in the state.
He was emphatic that out of the 15,000 youths who received their start up kits from the governor, no fewer than 3,000 will be billionaires in the future.
Chief Ekeh noted that going by his experience as a tech giant, what Uzodimma has done is unprecedented and futuristic.
He said as an apolitical personality, he was not campaigning for anyone but appreciating the vision by Uzodimma to make Imo State the technology and digital hub of the country.
The digital economy minister also shared the same view, saying that Uzodimma has done what no other state governor has done in the country.
He said with what he had witnessed in Imo ,the federal government was going to partner the state in the training and empowerment of youths in digital skills to boost the economy.
In his speech, Governor Uzodimma disclosed that the 15,000 youths were the second batch to benefit from the programme after the first batch of 5,000.
According to the governor, a record 300,000 Imo youths are slated to benefit from the programme.
He said the 20,000 youths trained have been equipped with relevant digital tools to enable them to launch their own startups, create new ventures and become self reliant, noting that some of them have already taken advantage of freelancing opportunities that come with the digital economy to provide tech service to local and international companies.
He pledged that his administration is committed to leveraging technology to build a sustainable digital economy that will generate new jobs and expand the state’s economic space.
Uzodimma charged the youths to make use of the skills they learnt towards transforming Imo State, and by extension, Nigeria, into a bedrock of technological advancement in Africa.