SKILLUP IMO GOES GLOBAL AS HON. ERIC UWAKWE MAKES CASE FOR PARTNERSHIP AT UN ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICA

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SKILLUP IMO GOES GLOBAL AS HON. ERIC UWAKWE MAKES CASE FOR PARTNERSHIP AT UN ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICA

Hon. Eric Uwakwe, SA Youth Development 


Imo State’s flagship youth program, SkillUp Imo, received international spotlight as Hon. Eric Uwakwe, Special Adviser to the Imo State Governor on Youth Development and Chairman, Forum of Special Adviser and senior special Assistant on Youth to the Governors in Nigeria, represented Nigeria at the 12th Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD-12).



The forum, themed _“Turning the Tide: Transformative and Coordinated Actions for the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063", held from 28–30 April 2026 at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.



Speaking during a high-level session on “Youth, Innovation and the Future of Work in Africa”, Hon. Uwakwe showcased how Governor Hope Uzodimma’s SkillUp Imo Project is driving youth employment, digital literacy, data management, Artificial Intelligence, and systems maintenance across the state. He called on the UN, African Union, and development partners to collaborate with the Imo State Government to accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 and AU Agenda 2063.


_“The youths are the pillars of Africa. To skill them is to build a solid foundation for the continent,”_ Uwakwe declared.


He disclosed that over 40,000 young people have been trained in hard and soft skills across Cohorts 1–4 of the program, with many already placed in tech jobs, remote work, and entrepreneurship. The program’s curriculum covers software development, UI/UX, cybersecurity, data analytics, digital marketing, and technical hardware repairs.


Hon. Uwakwe further revealed that SkillUp Imo Digital City in Owerri is currently under construction and will serve as a full-scale innovation hub for the Southeast upon completion. The facility will host coding academies, startup incubators, and certification centers in partnership with global tech firms, positioning Imo as Nigeria’s emerging Silicon Valley.


Delegates from Kenya, Rwanda, and South Africa commended the Imo model during the peer-review session, with the UNDP Africa Representative describing SkillUp Imo as “a replicable framework for sub-national governments tackling youth unemployment.”Hon. Uwakwe used the opportunity to invite UNECA and AU technical teams to Imo for a joint assessment and pilot partnership.


He also announced that Cohort 5 of SkillUp Imo will commence soon with a special focus on AI for Agriculture, Green Tech, and Creative Economy, aligning directly with SDG 8 on Decent Work, SDG 9 on Industry & Innovation, and Agenda 2063 Aspiration 6 on People-Driven Development.


By presenting SkillUp Imo on a continental stage, Hon. Uwakwe has projected Imo’s innovation model and opened doors for strategic partnerships to scale youth empowerment beyond Nigeria. The Imo State Government reaffirms its commitment to making the state a net exporter of digital talent in Africa.

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