By IHECHINYERE CHIGEMERI-UWOM

Gov. Alex Otti of Abia has lifted the ban on civil service recruitment, hence, immediately employing 19 outstanding graduates of the state’s TechRise Information and Communication Technology (ICT) programme.

Otti announced the decision on Friday, in Umuahia, at the graduation ceremony of the third cohort of the programme, where 850 youths completed a three-month intensive training in ICT.

He said that the recruitment was part of his administration’s strategy to retain the best talents produced by the programme, and deploy their expertise to improve public service delivery.

“I’m hereby lifting the ban on civil service employment and directing the Head of Service to immediately and automatically recruit the 19 of you.

“So by the time that is done, the ban would now continue.

“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.

He directed the Head of Service to work with the Chief Information Officer and other relevant officials to identify ICT competency gaps across ministries, departments and agencies that could be filled by the qualified TechRise graduates.

Otti also directed the establishment of a special salary cadre for ICT professionals in the civil service, subject to applicable conditions.

He said that the 850 laptops used by the graduates during the training had been transferred to them, as personal property to support their continued learning and professional development.

The governor also announced a cash gift of N100,000 for each of the 850 graduates, urging them to use their skills to create businesses, innovations and employment opportunities.

“The most encouraging development from today’s graduation ceremony is the introduction of hundreds of new job-ready professionals into our economy,” he said.

Otti disclosed that 2,210 people had so far completed the TechRise ICT skills development programme since its commencement.

He described the latest graduation as another milestone in the state government’s efforts to prepare young people for the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

The governor challenged the graduates to convert their newly acquired skills into viable businesses and innovations.

He warned them against using their knowledge for criminal purposes.

Otti commended graduates who developed a functional drone and directed the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation to work with the team to explore ways of moving the innovation from concept to commercial viability.

He further disclosed plans to establish international-standard ICT examination and certification centres in Abia, enabling residents to obtain professional certifications required for career advancement without travelling outside the state.

Also speaking, Mr Uzor Nwachukwu, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, said that the government had equipped 2,210 youths through three cohorts of the fully funded three-month TechRise programme.

Nwachukwu described the beneficiaries as architects of the state’s digital future.

Also, the Coordinator of TechRise, Mr Chibueze Ukaegbu, said that the programme had also trained 2,500 civil servants in computer skills, with plans to increase the number to 5,000.

Ukaegbu, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of LearnFactory, said that the organisation also planned to introduce coding programmes for primary pupils and secondary school students across the state.

He listed courses taught under the TechRise programme to include Creative Arts, Cyber Security, Full Stack Development, AI Animation, Product Management, Computer Design and Manufacturing, and Enterprise Fathom.

One of the graduates, Mr Victor Onuoha, thanked the state government for empowering them through the programme.

Onuoha appealed for the extension of the programme to young people who were not accommodated in the first, second and third cohorts.

The ceremony featured the presentation of certificates to the overall best participants representing the seven courses offered under the programme. (NAN)

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