NEWS
“…Because Time Is of the Essence” — Gov. Alex Otti Says, as He Expands ThriveAbia Digital Skills Programme to 1,000 Youths After 87% Pilot Success, Over 50% Begin Earning in Foreign Currency
“…Because Time Is of the Essence” — Gov. Alex Otti Says, as He Expands ThriveAbia Digital Skills Programme to 1,000 Youths After 87% Pilot Success, Over 50% Begin Earning in Foreign Currency
The Executive Governor of Abia State, His Excellency, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, has approved the expansion of the ThriveAbia Digital Capacity Development and Mentorship Programme to accommodate 1,000 young people in its first cohort, following the impressive success of its pilot phase, which produced 100 trained participants, an 87 per cent graduation rate, and encouraging early income opportunities for graduates in the global digital economy.
The expansion underscores the Otti led-administration’s commitment to youth empowerment, technology-driven economic growth, entrepreneurship development, and the creation of sustainable livelihood opportunities for young Abians through digital skills acquisition and mentorship.
Governor Otti gave the approval on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at his office while receiving a delegation led by the Director and Co-founder of Tech Excentric, the technical partners responsible for implementing the ThriveAbia programme.
Impressed by the results achieved during the pilot phase, the Governor directed the immediate expansion of the initiative, stressing the need to accelerate implementation so that more young people could benefit from the growing opportunities available in the global digital economy.
Every second brings Nigerians closer to exercising their democratic right and shaping the future of our nation.
Exercise your democratic right responsibly, peacefully and lawfully.
“I am therefore in agreement with the proposal to expand the programme to accommodate 1,000 participants.
Channel
“Indeed, it should be implemented as quickly as possible because time is of the essence. Applicants would apply and sit for the test, after which the results would determine those who proceed to the next stage,“ Governor Otti stated.
The Governor’s approval marks a significant step towards scaling up a programme designed to equip young people with practical, market-relevant digital competencies that can open doors to employment, remote work, entrepreneurship, and participation in international technology markets.
Congratulating the implementation team on the successful completion of the pilot phase, Governor Otti particularly commended the 87 per cent graduation rate and the encouraging participation of women, noting that more than half of the graduates were already earning in foreign currencies as a result of the skills and mentorship they had received.
“I am particularly impressed by what I have seen today. I congratulate you on the successful training of the first 100 participants and on the impressive results recorded. An 87 per cent graduation rate is commendable, especially when we consider that a significant proportion of the graduates are already earning in foreign currency,“ Governor Otti said.
The Governor’s remarks highlighted the importance of measuring the success of digital empowerment programmes not only by the number of people trained but also by the practical outcomes achieved, including employability, income generation, professional development, and access to opportunities beyond Nigeria’s borders.
With the first 100 participants providing an encouraging foundation, the proposed expansion to 1,000 beneficiaries is expected to widen access to digital education and mentorship while creating opportunities for more young Abians to develop skills that are increasingly valuable in the modern economy.
Governor Otti further noted that his administration was already collaborating with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through the UNIPOD initiative, reinforcing the government’s broader interest in innovation, emerging technologies, enterprise development, and preparing young people for the demands of a rapidly changing world.
He emphasized that digital skills development and emerging technologies were critical to equipping the next generation with the knowledge and capabilities required to compete effectively in an increasingly technology-driven global economy.
However, the Governor stressed that the selection process for the expanded programme must be transparent, competitive, and strictly merit-based to ensure that admission is determined by candidates’ abilities and performance rather than other considerations.
To achieve this objective, he proposed computer-based testing and additional assessments that would enable the programme managers to identify qualified candidates capable of benefiting from the training.
He subsequently directed the implementation team to work closely with relevant government officials to establish a clear timetable for the programme’s rollout and identify suitable facilities for the expanded training exercise.
The directive is expected to provide an organised framework for the recruitment, assessment, selection, and training of the next batch of participants, while ensuring that the expansion maintains the quality and standards recorded during the pilot phase.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Science, Technology and Innovation, Mr. David Kalu, who introduced the delegation, described the ThriveAbia pilot programme as a huge success, explaining that 100 young Abians had graduated after receiving training in various digital skill areas.
Kalu disclosed that the programme had recorded an 87 per cent graduation rate, while more than 50 per cent of the graduates had already begun earning in foreign currencies through opportunities made possible by the digital skills and mentorship acquired during the programme.
The Commissioner noted that the outcomes demonstrated the potential of structured digital training to improve the economic prospects of young people, particularly at a time when digital services, remote employment, and technology-enabled businesses are creating opportunities across international markets.
In their separate remarks, the Director of Tech Excentric, Mrs. Doris Akpuha, and the company’s Co-founder, Mr. Gilbert Igwe, expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the pilot phase and welcomed the Governor’s approval to expand the initiative.
They assured the Governor that the team was prepared to commence the first cohort of 1,000 participants, adding that the expanded programme would continue to focus on equipping young Abians with practical digital skills, entrepreneurial capabilities, and the mentorship necessary to compete in the global digital economy.
According to them, the programme is designed to help participants translate their knowledge into practical economic opportunities by developing competencies that can support employment, freelance services, technology-based enterprises, and other forms of digital entrepreneurship.
The team also disclosed plans to launch a social media campaign to showcase the Governor’s achievements and highlight the opportunities being created for young people under his administration.
They explained that the campaign would help raise awareness of the programme and other youth-focused initiatives while promoting Abia’s growing digital economy and supporting efforts to increase the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The Tech Excentric representatives expressed appreciation to Governor Otti and the Abia State Government for the opportunity to partner in delivering the initiative, reaffirming their readiness to support the programme’s expansion and its broader objectives.
The ThriveAbia initiative represents another effort to connect youth development with technology, innovation, and economic empowerment, with the potential to enable beneficiaries to compete for opportunities locally and internationally.
By increasing the programme’s capacity from the initial 100 participants to 1,000 in the first cohort, the state government is seeking to extend the benefits of digital skills training to a wider segment of its youth population while building on the encouraging results recorded during the pilot phase.
Present at the meeting were the Principal Secretary and Chief Strategy Officer to the Governor, Mr. Chinenye Mba-Uzoukwu, and the Chief Information Officer to the Governor, Mr. Gerald Ilukwe.
The expansion of ThriveAbia further reinforces the administration’s focus on preparing young Abians for emerging economic realities by promoting skills acquisition, innovation, entrepreneurship, and access to opportunities in the rapidly expanding digital economy.
DO YOU WANT TO WHISTLEBLOW, REPORT FRAUD, THEFT OR INJUSTICE OR INTIMIDATION? SEND US YOUR STORY/REPORT TO NEWSDESK@MEDIATODAY.NG
