Youths in Imo State made a commitment over the weekend to engage the government in ensuring its plan to train 300,000 young people on digital skills is successful. They pledged to hold the government accountable while promising to promote the state positively towards attracting investors into the Startup Ecosystem.

It was one of the highlights of #StartupSouth7 Owerri pre-conference that took place at Rockview Hotel on Saturday, September 10, 2022.

Speaking during the event, Nze Meekam Mgbewelu, former Commissioner, Science and Technology in Imo State, emphasised that infrastructure, security and trust are among key requirements for a sustainable innovation economy.

Also speaking during the event, Honourable Commissioner, Labour, Productivity & Employment, Hon. Ford Ozumba (represented by Head of Department, Skills Acquisition, Mrs Amaka Umeh) charged the youths to work with the government to improve the fortunes of the state. He noted that his ministry has put in place programmes that will enable the youths secure jobs after graduation. He said that the Imo State Productivity Awards was set up to encourage Imo citizens and captains of industry to push the limits by providing jobs and growing the economy.

Speaking further, he said that the ministry will be working with #StartupSouth to grow the ecosystem in the state towards becoming the innovation hub of the nation.  

On his part, Comrade Eric Uwakwe, SA to the governor of Imo State on Youths, said that the government led by Distinguished (Sen.) Hope Uzodimma is prioritizing youth empowerment to deal with high unemployment rate in the state as evidenced in the recent approval of the 300,000 digital skills training project. He pledged government support for the innovation ecosystem and promised a large contingent from the state will attend the main conference in Benin on November 10 & 11, 2022.

Other speakers at the event included Claret Nnamocha, Co-lead, GDG Owerri, Engr. Ndubuisi Chidomere, CEO, Pamtech, Excel Ajah, CEO, Silicon Africa Technology & Convener, SMFest, Owerri and Igwe Uguru, Co-founder, Chooya.

The event was organised by the Imo Startup Community led by Chukwuma Anurunkem and Bedrock Initiative led by Ikenna ‘Hector’ Okechukwu. It was supported by Owerri Tech Group and Google Developer Group Owerri led by Ndubuisi Onyemenam and Gospel Chinyereugo respectively.

On Friday, September 9, 2022, as part of the pre-conference tour in the state, youths in Oguta local government area were exposed to career opportunities in technology at the Oguta Tech Day event. Speakers at the event included Ndubuisi Onyemenam, Snr. Remote Software Engineer based in Owerri, Prisca Amaefula, Founder, PTouchë WIFI, John Onuigbo, Founder, Foris Labs and Nnamdi Uba, Co-founder, HouseAfrica.io.

The Eze Igwe of Oguta, HRM Nnani Nzeribe represented by Ogbuagu Nduka Oduenyi, The Ogana (Palace Secretary) of Oguta pledged to engage prominent citizens of Oguta to support indigenes who are interested in taking up careers in tech.

The #StartupSouth7 pre-conference train moves to Enugu on September 17, 2022.