Otti Grants Automatic Employment To 19 TechRise Graduands, Urges Continuous Learning

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has approved automatic employment into the state civil service for the 19 best-graduating students of Cohort 3 of the Abia TechRise Information and Communication Technology (ICT) skills development programme.

Governor Otti made the announcement on Thursday, August 21, 2026, during the graduation ceremony of 850 youths who participated in the third cohort of the programme held at the JAAC Secretariat, Umuahia.

The Governor also announced a cash gift of N100,000 for each of the 850 graduands and directed that the laptops they used during the training be transferred to them as their personal property.

To ensure that the skills acquired by the beneficiaries are effectively deployed, Governor Otti directed the Head of Service and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation to work with the Chief Information Officer of the state to identify existing ICT gaps in the public service and consider filling them with qualified TechRise graduands.

He explained that the decision to employ the 19 best-performing graduates was part of his administration’s strategy to retain exceptional talents produced through the programme 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,” the Governor said.

Governor Otti also directed that a special salary structure be developed for ICT professionals in the state civil service, subject to applicable conditions.

While congratulating the graduands, the Governor urged them to embrace continuous learning, stressing that the knowledge and skills acquired during the programme were the most valuable benefits of the training.

He challenged the beneficiaries to transform their skills into viable businesses, innovations and employment opportunities, while warning them against using their knowledge for criminal activities.

Governor Otti particularly commended a group of graduands who developed a functional drone and directed the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation to work with the team to explore opportunities for taking the innovation from the prototype stage to commercial viability.

The Governor further disclosed plans by his administration to establish international-standard ICT examination and certification centres in Abia, which would enable residents to obtain professional certifications needed for career advancement without travelling outside the state.

He also disclosed that the state government was working with MTN to expand internet penetration to communities across Abia.

Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Uzor Nwachukwu, said the TechRise programme, implemented in partnership with the 17 local government areas, had so far trained 2,210 youths from Abia and other parts of Nigeria.

He described the programme as a 100 per cent cost-free, three-month technological skills acquisition initiative designed to prepare young people for the digital economy.

“Over the past one year and half, this programme has produced 2,210 youths in three study cohorts, both Abians and other Nigerians from other areas of the country living in Abia without discrimination,” Nwachukwu said.

He told the graduands that they had, during the three-month training, acquired the ability to work with complex programming languages, solve intricate problems and transform abstract concepts into functional solutions.

Speaking on behalf of the mayors of the 17 local government areas, the Mayor of Umuahia South LGA, Hon. Engr. Chinedu Enwereuzo, described Governor Otti’s policies and programmes as deliberate and purposeful, urging the graduands to make effective use of the skills they had acquired.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Lady Oge Maduka, commended Governor Otti for his commitment to human capital development and investment in the future of young people in the state.

She noted that the beneficiaries had been equipped with practical ICT skills capable of opening opportunities for employment, entrepreneurship and global careers.

In his remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of LearnFactory and TechRise Coordinator, Engr. Chibueze Ukaegbu, disclosed that the programme had also trained 2,500 civil servants in computer skills, with plans to increase the number to 5,000.

Ukaegbu said the organisation had authored coding books and would donate 500 copies to smart schools to support ICT education. He also proposed the introduction of coding as a subject in primary and secondary schools and the establishment of an “Abia One Stop Platform” as part of the organisation’s contribution to the state.

Responding on behalf of the graduands, Mr. Onuoha Victor Chinedu thanked Governor Otti for the opportunity, saying the training had equipped them with skills and confidence to face the future.

He expressed hope that more young people would benefit from subsequent editions of the programme.

The ceremony was attended by several mayors, including the Mayor of Umuahia North, Hon. Smart Ihuoma; Mayor of Aba North, Hon. Timothy Iheke; Mayor of Osisioma, Hon. Chidi Agu; Mayor of Bende, Hon. Deacon Uwabunkeonye Bassey; and other senior government officials.