Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has approved automatic employment into the state civil service for the 19 best-performing graduates of the third cohort of the Abia TechRise ICT skills development programme.
The governor announced this on Thursday, August 21, 2026, during the graduation ceremony of 850 youths trained under the programme at the JAAC Secretariat in Umuahia.
Otti also approved a ₦100,000 cash grant for each of the 850 graduands and directed that the laptops used during the training be handed over to them as their personal property.
The governor said the decision to employ the 19 best graduates was part of his administration’s strategy to retain skilled young talents and deploy their expertise to improve public service delivery.
“A central part of our value multiplication outlook is to retain the best hands from each cohort of the programme and have them contribute directly in improving social service delivery through the institutions of government,” Otti said.
He directed the Head of Service and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation to work with the State Chief Information Officer to identify ICT gaps across government institutions and determine areas where TechRise graduates could be deployed.
Otti also directed the development of a special salary structure for ICT professionals in the state civil service, subject to applicable conditions.
The governor urged the graduands to embrace continuous learning and use their newly acquired skills to build businesses, develop innovations and create employment opportunities.
He, however, warned them against using their technological knowledge for criminal activities.
Otti particularly commended graduates who developed a functional drone during the programme and directed the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation to work with the team to explore opportunities for commercialising the innovation.
He further disclosed plans to establish international-standard ICT examination and certification centres in Abia, allowing residents to obtain professional certifications without travelling outside the state.
The governor added that his administration was working with MTN to expand internet penetration across the state.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Uzor Nwachukwu, said the programme had trained 2,210 youths across three cohorts since its inception.
He described the initiative as a deliberate investment in human capital development, noting that beneficiaries had been equipped with practical skills capable of opening opportunities in employment and entrepreneurship.
The TechRise Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of LearnFactory, Engr. Chibueze Ukaegbu, disclosed that the programme had also trained 2,500 civil servants in computer skills, with plans to increase the figure to 5,000.
He also announced plans to donate 500 coding books to smart schools and advocated the introduction of coding education in primary and secondary schools.
Responding on behalf of the graduands, Mr Onuoha Victor Chinedu expressed appreciation to the state government, saying the training had equipped participants with skills and confidence to pursue opportunities in the digital economy.
The ceremony was attended by mayors of several local government areas, government officials, programme coordinators and other stakeholders.
