The Imo State Government has announced plans to train 300,000 jobs for youths in the state on digital economy.

According to a statement issued on Thursday by the Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the Governor, Oguwike Nwachuku, the development followed the approval of a Council Memo on Imo Youth Digital Training and Empowerment Scheme by the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma.

The approved memo was submitted by the Chief Economic Adviser to the Governor, Prof. Kenneth Amaeshi, at the State Executive Council meeting held on Wednesday.

Addressing newsmen at the end of the council meeting, the Chief Political Adviser and Head Political Bureau, Barr. Enyinna Onuegbu, said the memo was brought to the Exco by Prof. Amaeshi “in conjunction with the Commissioner for Labour, Employment and Productivity, Chief Ford Ozumba.”

Onuegbu: “The objective of which is to have about 300,000 Imo youths pass through a training that will make them digitally sound and guarantee their expertise in digital technology and other training possibilities.

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“In addition, the training will increase their qualifications, by guaranteeing their knowledge as they will become employable as well as employers of labour.”

Flanked by the Imo State Commissioner for Labour, Employment and Productivity, Ford Ozumba, newly sworn-in Commissioner, Jerry Egemba, and Prof. Amaeshi, Onuegbu noted that the state government was planning a digital training programme for thousands of youths in Imo State to be held soon, adding that the Exco constituted an Inter-Ministerial Committee to drive the project.

The members of the committee include the Chief Economic Adviser to the Governor, the Commissioner for Labour, Employment and Productivity, the Commissioner for Science and Technology, and the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning.

Other members are the Commissioner for Youths and Sports and the Chief Political Adviser and Head of Political Bureau.

“The project when realised will be very beneficial to the teaming Imo youths, especially those who are likely to benefit from it not only as employees but will turn out to be employers of labour.

“The beneficiaries will contribute to the economy of Imo State as they will be working for international organisations while living in Imo State and paying their taxes and bills,” Onuegbu added.

He further stated that Governor Uzodinma assured the Exco that well-established entrepreneurs and computer specialists such as Zinox Computers and the Federal Minister of Communication and Digital Economy have all already keyed into the training project of Imo youths on digital economy.

The Star