The Honourable Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, has reaffirmed her commitment to youth empowerment and digital innovation as she joined Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, to celebrate the graduation of 10,000 youths under the third cohort of the SkillUp Imo programme.
The initiative, conceived in part by Dr. Uzoka-Anite, has so far trained over 50,000 young Nigerians, particularly from Imo State, in advanced digital skills including app development, data analytics, AI, cybersecurity, fintech, digital marketing, and cloud technology.
Speaking during the graduation ceremony—which coincided with the International Day of the Girl Child—Dr. Uzoka-Anite expressed pride in the achievements of young women who have leveraged the programme to pursue careers in the digital economy.
“I am proud of our young girls who have taken advantage of this opportunity to upskill and reskill in the digital economy. We remain committed to widening access, scholarships, and mentorship so more girls can lead in STEM and shape the future of our region,” she said.
The Minister praised Governor Uzodimma for his steadfast support and acknowledged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for strengthening subnational capacity to fund and scale initiatives like SkillUp Imo.
Governor Uzodimma, in his remarks, described the event as a celebration of the state’s future:
“Today, we celebrate not just the graduates of SkillUp Imo, but the future of our state and nation. This milestone shows what we can achieve when we invest in our youth and empower them with the skills to succeed.”
With its growing pool of digitally trained youth, Imo State is fast becoming a hub for innovation and technology talent, setting the stage for sustainable development and inclusive growth in Nigeria’s South-East region.
