By Joe Udo
UMUAHIA (CONVERSEER) – Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has approved automatic employment for 50 outstanding graduates of the TechRise Cohort 2 programme into relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the state civil service.
The governor made the announcement on Saturday during the graduation ceremony of 849 trainees at the JAAC Building Secretariat, Umuahia, marking the completion of a three-month intensive training on 21st-century digital and technology-driven skills.
Governor Otti explained that the employment offer is subject to the beneficiaries presenting all required civil service documentation, adding that the recruitment embargo had been temporarily lifted solely for the exercise.
“I am glad that the Head of Service is here. What this means is that I have lifted the embargo to employ 50 of them. As soon as that exercise is completed, the embargo returns,” the governor stated.
In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Njoku Ukoha Njoku, the governor noted that a total of 1,359 young people trained under the TechRise programme in the last 12 months now constitute a pool of skilled manpower critical to Abia’s digital transformation drive.
Governor Otti said the TechRise initiative was deliberately designed to produce a specialised workforce capable of deploying innovative IT solutions in support of government efficiency and service delivery.
He disclosed that Abia State is actively transitioning to a digitally driven governance framework aimed at reducing reliance on paper-based processes, enabling round-the-clock services, and significantly improving turnaround time.
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The governor further revealed that broadband expansion projects are ongoing across the state, confirming that the Umuahia Dedicated Internet Access and Wide Area Network programme has been completed and is operational across government offices in the capital.
According to him, the progress within the Abia tech ecosystem reinforces his belief that effective leadership must inspire citizens to pursue and realise their aspirations.
Governor Otti also referenced the recent launch of the Abia State DUCT Infrastructure Development Project in Aba, stressing that the administration’s objective is to make every community economically functional.
“All our investments in roads, education, sanitation, security and other sectors are tied to one overarching goal — making Abia the home of bountiful reward for all hardworking individuals,” he said.
As part of the ceremony, the governor approved ₦50,000 each as a Christmas package for all 849 graduands and ₦100,000 each for prize-winning trainees. He also directed the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to provide transportation allowances to enable the graduates return to their respective local government areas.
A minute of silence was observed in honour of a trainee, Mr Princewill Ogbonnia, who passed away days before the event, with the governor extending condolences to his family.
Commissioners Prince Uzor Nwachukwu (Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs), Mr David Kalu (Science, Technology and Innovation), and Sir Nwaobilor Ananaba (Youth and Sports Development) praised the governor’s sustained commitment to youth empowerment through digital skills development.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Lady Oge Maduka, said the training went beyond technical skills, noting that participants also gained leadership capacity, discipline and resilience.
The programme coordinator and CEO of Learn Factory, Mr Chibueze Ukaegbu, urged the graduands to apply their acquired skills meaningfully, while a graduate representative, Miss Chinwemeri Benjamin, expressed gratitude to the governor for the training, laptops and financial support, describing the initiative as a pathway to economic independence.
The event also featured testimonials from Cohort 1 graduates, including Mr Charles Ikechukwu, who developed a waste-to-wealth application, and Mr Stephen Uche Onyegbulam, whose team created an app to help stranded motorists locate nearby mechanics. Certificates were subsequently presented to all graduands.
