Otti Grants Automatic Employment to 50 Top Talents as TechRise Graduates 849 Youths

Abia State Governor Alex Otti has announced automatic employment for 50 most outstanding graduates of TechRise Cohort 2 trainees into the State Civil Service.

He made the pronouncement in Umuahia, during the graduation ceremony marking the completion of an intensive three-month digital skills training programme by 849 youths drawn from across the State.

The Governor explained that the employment approval would be carried out in line with due process, stressing that beneficiaries must meet all documentation requirements applicable to civil service engagement.

He disclosed that the approval required a temporary lifting of the existing employment embargo, strictly for the purpose of absorbing the selected TechRise graduates.

“I am glad that the Head of Service is here. So, what this means is that I have lifted the embargo to employ 50 of them.

“And as soon as that exercise is completed, the embargo comes back. So, the documentation, you can bring to me on Monday for the 50 of them” Gov. Otti stated.

Governor Otti said that the total of 1,359 persons who have successfully passed through the TechRise programme in the last 12 months would provide the critical manpower required to make this happen.

He emphasised that the Techrise initiative was set up to create an elite corps of competent IT solution providers who will ultimately apply their skills, knowledge and superior understanding of the technology ecosystem to build the idea of the State’s collective dreams.

“As you may be aware, we are currently repositioning the service delivery architecture in the State to run more efficiently on digital infrastructure super highways.

“The aim is to become less reliant on physical paper, provide round-the-clock services and ultimately improve turn around time” Gov. Otti stated.

He noted that his government is currently investing in the expansion of broadband internet facilities in different parts of the State.

He said that the Umuahia dedicated internet access and wide area network programme have since been completed and currently operational in all the government establishments.

He said that what is happening in the Abia Tech ecosystem butresses his conviction that leadership is about inspiring people to believe in the validity of their dreams.

“As I mentioned, everything we do is connected to our grand governance objective, which is making Abia the home of bountiful reward for all hardworking individuals.

“Whether we are investing in roads, education, urban sanitation, security, or other front-lines of development, the target is always the same; make Abia the best and the truly number one” Gov. Otti stated.

Governor Otti who directed the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to provide transportation fares for all the graduates, also approved the sum of 50,000 Naira each as Christmas package for the 849 graduands.

He announced a cash reward of 100,000 Naira each for those who won prizes.

In their speeches, the Commissioners for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Uzor Nwachukwu, Science, Technology and Innovation, Mr David Kalu and that of Youth and Sports Development, Sir Nwaobilor Ananaba commended Governor Alex Otti’s said that TechRise Cohort 2 exposed the graduands, equipping them with ICT skills and urged them to keep learning and keep improving.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Lady Oge Maduka while commending Governor Otti for the project, appreciated the partnership between the State and LGAs, adding that the 3 months training was beyond Tech as they also developed leadership, discipline and resilience .

Earlier, the CEO Learn Factory and coordinator of the Techrise programme, Mr Chibueze Ukaegbu enjoined the graduates to make use of the skills acquired.

Speaking in an interview on behalf of other graduates, Miss Chinwemeri Benjamin thanked Governor Alex Otti for granting them the opportunity of being trained in ICT as well as empowering them with laptops and other largesse he extended to them.

Ms Benjamin said that the training they got would make them economically independent and prayed to God to bless Governor Otti abundantly.

The event featured testimonials from a Cohort 1 graduate, Mr. Charles Ikechukwu who said that he has developed an App that could help in converting waste to wealth, Mr Stephen Uche Onyegbulam who said that his team developed an App that can assist stranded motorists to locate the nearest mechanic and the presentation of certificates to the graduates.

A minute silence was also observed in honour of one of the TechRise trainees, Mr Princewill Ogbonnia who died a few days before the graduation ceremony.