Uzodimma Flags Off Cohort 3 Skill-Up Imo Project for 40000 Youths

The Governor of Imo State, Sen. Hope Uzodimma has flagged off the Cohort 3 Skill-Up Imo Project for 40000 youths who will be trained on different digital skills that will make them either employable or self reliant, depending on their choice.

Flagging off the exercise on Tuesday at the Dan Anyiam Stadium Owerri, the Governor told the youths that “the overall objective of the Skill-Up is to make Imo youths self reliant, job employers, creative thinkers and future world billionaires in US dollars.”

He informed them that his administration has entered into Memorandum Of Understanding with some foreign companies who will immediately employ successful ones among them at the end of their graduation.

Governor Uzodimma said that it is the  responsibility of government to prepare the youths for the future, equip and train them on how to fish and not to give them fish.

The Governor said that “when the youths are trained, equipped and empowered, the crime in the Communities are reduced and peace is restored,” urging them to be “attentive,  serious and useful to Imo State and Nigeria” when they are prosperous in their chosen vocations.

The Governor said that Imo people are happy that despite the challenges facing the government, his administration is able to graduate 20,000 youths from the programme and now admitting another 40000 on the same project.”

He pointed out that 75 per cent of the Cohort 1 and 2 are already employed and advised the new intakes to take the programme as “a password for progress and prosperity.”

Governor Uzodimma thanked the Commissioner for Digital Economy and E-Government, Dr. Chimezie Amadi and Imo youths for accepting the programme.

In a welcome address, Dr. Amadi said that Imo people have fully accepted the programme, noting that “Imo mothers now say their children must be skilled up.”

He affirmed that the Skill-Up Imo Project Cohort 3 students and graduates of the Cohort 1 and 2 are with the Governor in his aspiration and will work for his re-election so that their desire for Cohort 4, 5 & 6 and even more will be realised.

The Okada Riders in Imo State, led by their Chairman, Comrade Peter Udogu, have unanimously endorsed the Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma for a second term, assuring that they will vote for him on November 11, 2023.

They added that the Governor has done well and that they are happy with him for what he has done in his first tenure.

Udogu said that they have resolved that “where the Governor is there we will be.”

They made the commitment when they staged a solidarity rally at the gate of the Government House Owerri, Monday.

However, they requested the Governor to assist them replace some of their old motorcycles to enable them still be on their jobs.

Also, they reminded the Governor that they were not included in the sharing of the palliative to cushion the effect of subsidy removal in the State and asked that they be remembered.

Responding to their endorsement and resolve to vote for him as well as their request on palliatives, the Governor thanked them for coming and reminded them that in 2019 they were his first partners and by the grace of God, they succeeded.

He told them that as friends and partners they should help him to identify and report the criminals in the society as some of them carry the criminals from one point to another.

The Governor said that if they want to stop the insecurity it is possible with their collaboration with the government.

He told them that he has good plans to “buy them new machines,”  but he is constrained by “fear of identity to avoid buying new motorcycles for criminals in the State.”

He however, assured them that he will replace most of their motorcycles that have gone bad since he has been reassured of their membership of registered Unions with the State Ministry of Transport.

The Governor reiterated his appeal to them to help stop crime in the State “because we don’t need it.”

He directed that they be given 2,000 5Kg bags of rice as their palliative for the fuel subsidy removal.