Governor Otti Grants Automatic Employment to 19, Distributes Laptops to 509 ICT Graduands in Abia
Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, has offered automatic employment to 19 outstanding participants of the Abia TechRise digital training programme and distributed laptops to 509 graduands to support their entrepreneurial journey in the tech industry.
The announcement was made on Saturday, May 10, 2025, during the graduation ceremony of the TechRise ICT Training Programme organized by the Abia State Government in collaboration with the 17 Local Government Mayors and LearnFactory Nigeria. The event took place at the JAAC Building Secretariat in Umuahia.
Governor Otti, while congratulating the graduands, said the 19 best-performing trainees—drawn from various tech project groups and award recipients—would begin work in the Abia State Civil Service from Monday, May 12. He directed the State Head of Service, Mr. Benson Ojeikere, to prepare the necessary employment documentation in collaboration with the Commissioner for Science, Technology and Innovation.
“The effective start date is on Monday, 12th May. Head of Service, please prepare your documentation so I can temporarily lift the ban on employment, engage them, and close it back,” the Governor stated.
He further instructed that all 509 graduands retain the laptops used during their three-month intensive training as startup tools to encourage tech entrepreneurship.
Dr. Otti reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to sustainable empowerment, not just handouts. He emphasized skill-building over tokenistic palliatives such as commercial tricycles, noting that the training was designed to equip participants with relevant 21st-century digital skills to enable them compete globally.
“Rather than giving you fish, we want to give you the tools to catch fish. Gone are the days of keke empowerment. You can sit here and work for Google or Microsoft because of the skills you now possess,” Otti said.
The Governor also directed his Chief Strategy Officer to maintain a monitoring and support platform for the graduands, offering mentorship and career guidance as they transition into professional tech roles.
In his remarks, Prince Uzor Nwachukwu, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, described Abia TechRise as a transformative movement designed to unlock youth potential and foster innovation.
“This initiative empowered youths with practical, in-demand skills within just three months. It’s not just a programme, it’s a digital revolution,” Nwachukwu noted.
Engr. Chibueze Ukaegbu, CEO of LearnFactory Nigeria, revealed that the training covered seven key digital areas including Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Product Design, and Digital Animation—designed to align with global tech market demands.
One of the graduands, Samuel Uchendu, expressed gratitude to Governor Otti and LearnFactory, stating that the training has opened new horizons for him and other participants.
“We were trained in areas like digital animation and AI. The knowledge gained will help boost our productivity,” Uchendu said.
The event was attended by senior government officials, tech partners, family members of the graduands, and community stakeholders. All trainees received certificates, marking the beginning of their journey in the fast-evolving tech ecosystem.
