Interrogating Uzodimma’s 4000 jobs with facts

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Prince Eze Ugochukwu


In the last few days, a less than two-minute video extract from Governor Hope Uzodimma’s address to some of the beneficiaries of the Imo State Digital Skills Programme (SkillupImo Project) has gone viral and provoked mixed comments. I do not see the comments trailing the speech in any bad light, because they demonstrate superb public engagement necessary for the development and maturity of our democracy. I applaud our people for that. For the sustenance of such public engagements, it is important that our people have the right information.

I fully understand and recognise that people have different views on the matter. But irrespective of your take on the speech, which I absolutely respect, please permit me to interrogate the Governor’s pronouncement with some questions and facts which may not be readily available in the public domain, for your kind consideration. Please indulge me for a while. 

*Question #1: What is the background of the speech and where was it made?*
Senator Hope Uzodimma’s governance philosophy is summarised in his well-publicised three-pronged agenda of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Recovery. Critical to this agenda is his quest to empower the youth, create jobs, and reduce unemployment. So, precisely on Wednesday, August 17, 2022, he publicly committed to training 300000 Imo youth on digital skills. This is now dubbed the SkillupImo Project.

Addressing the media at the end of the state executive council meeting after the approval was granted, the Chief Political Adviser to the governor stated that “The beneficiaries will contribute to the economy of the state as they will be working for international organisations while living in Imo and paying their taxes and bills”. For information on the public announcement of the Governor’s commitment in August 2022 (more than a year ago), please see this _Guardian Newspaper_ news on it: https://guardian.ng/news/imo-targets-300000-jobs-in-digital-economy/

A month afterwards, in September 2022, the Governor created the first Ministry of Digital Economy and e-Governance in Nigeria and specifically requested the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to second Dr Chimezie Amadi (a thorough bred professional in the digital economy sector in Nigeria) to Imo State as a commissioner to lead this new Ministry and drive the SkillupImo Project.

So far, the SkillupImo Project has led to the training of 20,000 youths. Under the first cohort, 5,000 youths were trained and provided with laptop computers as they graduated on February 22, 2023 (please see this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KcSpVW1SwI). Some of those trained have secured employment at Zinox, Konga and Waka Now, while some are self-employed. The second cohort which started in May 2023 graduated 15,000 youths on September 27, 2023 (please see this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESqGthXrxM4). The next cohort is expected to train 40,000 youths when it begins. Some of the youths that graduated from cohort 2 were also provided with laptop computers and other digital tools which will enhance their capability to be active players in the global digital economy either as employees or as employers.

As a show of appreciation, the graduates of cohort 2 chose to pay the governor a courtesy visit at the Government House, Owerri, a day before their graduation. It was at this courtesy call that the Governor made the speech, which an extract of has gone viral.

*Question #2: Was it a political campaign speech?*

I have seen some comments that have alluded the speech to a campaign speech. This is not true. It was not a political campaign speech. However, it is instructive to note that although the Governor’s re-election campaign committee has been inaugurated, Senator Hope Uzodimma is yet to officially commence his campaign tours for the November 11, 2023, elections.

*Question #3: Is it true that the Imo State Government is negotiating some digital jobs for Imo youth with some foreign companies?*

Yes, it is true! Based on the evidence I have access to I can confidently confirm that the Imo State Government is currently in discussions with some foreign companies and organisations on job placements for our young people. The opportunity is real. 

However, the government’s engagement with international bodies and companies should not be surprising since Senator Hope Uzodimma is an ardent fan of collaboration and partnership with international and multilateral organisations for strategic programmes and policies of the government. For example, his government has partnered with the World Health Organization (WHO) in the development and implementation of the Imo State Health Insurance Programme. His government has also partnered with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) to develop the Imo State Sustainable Industrialisation Policy, which is currently being implemented in the state with the vision of “Making Industries Work for All Imo People”. His government is currently partnering with the African Development Bank to develop an Agriculture Export Processing Zone in Imo State. The Governor has at various times said and demonstrated that the proposed Oil and Gas Processing Zone, which will be at the heart of the Orashi Economy, will be realised through partnerships and collaborations.

It is obvious that his strategic approach to collaboration and partnership is why the state has been engaging with foreign companies and organisations on skills migrant export as it relates to the SkillupImo Project. The skills migrant export programme will be a core component of the project once all agreements have been finalised.

*Question #4: But is the idea of supporting Imo young people to secure digital jobs abroad a good policy direction?*

Absolutely! It is a good policy thrust. The idea of exporting labour is not a new one. Some notable countries, such as the Philippines and India, have done it and benefited immensely from it. But one thing is clear. Since Imo State has chosen to play significantly in the global digital economy, it needs to be represented well across the different value chains of the digital economy. This is exactly what the Governor is doing and striving for. In that regard, some people can work from Imo State by doing in-sourced jobs from abroad. Some can be intermediaries who broker these jobs from abroad. There are also possible remittance benefits associated with exporting skilled labour. Notwithstanding, the balance between those outside and within needs to be well-calibrated for efficiency gains. That’s why the Governor did not promise automatic employment. It was a conditional offer. First, the candidates will need to meet the digital skill demands of the target foreign companies and organisations. Secondly, 4000 is only 0.01% of the 300,000 young people the Governor has committed to training over a period, which is both sensible and a very good balance. In my opinion, the December 2023 timeline is just a target. Good strategies are usually time-bound. Nonetheless, strategies are iterative and flexible. If, for example, the December 2023 timeline does not work, for any reason, a new target will be considered. It is that simple. What matters most is the will the Governor has shown in pursuing the SkillupImo programme, and as they say, Where there is a will, there is a way.” In that regard, Senator Hope Uzodimma should rather be applauded for his bold and ambitious vision for Imo State!

Thank you for your time and engagement!

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