By CHARLES IWUOHA

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has granted automatic employment to the 50 most outstanding graduates of TechRise Cohort 2 trainees, into the relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the State Civil Service.

Governor Otti made this public on Saturday, December 20, at JAAC Building Secretariat where the graduation ceremony of the 849 young people, who recently completed their 3 months intensive training on 21st Century Cutting-Edge Digital Skills.

He said that the automatic employment is subject to the beneficiaries' possession of important documents required to function in the civil service.

"I am glad that the Head of Service is here. So, what this means is that I have lifted the embargo to employ 50 of them.

"And as soon as that exercise is completed, the embargo comes back. So, the documentation, you can bring to me on Monday for the 50 of them" Gov. Otti stated.

Governor Otti said that the total of 1,359 persons who have successfully passed through the TechRise programme in the last 12 months would provide the critical manpower required to make this happen.

The State Chief Executive emphasised that the Techrise initiative was set up to create an elite corps of competent IT solution providers who will ultimately apply their skills, knowledge and superior understanding of the technology ecosystem to build the idea of the State's collective dreams.

"As you may be aware, we are currently repositioning the service delivery architecture in the State to run more efficiently on digital infrastructure super highway.

"The aim is to become less reliant on physical paper, provide round-the-clock services and ultimately improve turn around time" Gov. Otti stated.

Governor Otti stated that his government is currently investing in the expansion of broadband internet facilities in different parts of the State, informing the attendees that, the Umuahia dedicated internet access and wide area network programme has since been completed and currently operational in all the government establishments here in the capital city.

He said that what is happening in the Abia Tech ecosystem buttresses his conviction that leadership is about inspiring people to believe in the validity of their dreams.

Gov. Otti added that, "Just last October, the Abia State DUCT Infrastructure Development Project was flagged off in Aba. Our goal is to make every community in Abia an economically functional space.

"As I mentioned, everything we do is connected to our grand governance objective, which is making Abia the home of bountiful reward for all hardworking individuals.

"Whether we are investing in roads, education, urban sanitation, security, or other front-lines of development, the target is always the same; make Abia the best and the truly number one" Gov. Otti stated.

Governor Otti who directed the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to ensure that he provides transportation fee that would take each of them to their Local Government headquarters, also approved the sum of 50,000 Naira each as Christmas package for the 849 graduands.

He also instructed that those graduands, who won prizes be given a cash gift of 100,000 Naira each.

Otti directed for a minute silence to be observed in honour of one of the TechRise trainees, Mr. Princewill Ogbonnia who died few days to the graduation ceremony, and extended his condolences to the family.

In their speeches, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Uzor Nwachukwu, his Science, Technology and Innovation counterpart, Mr David Kalu and the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Sir Nwaobilor Ananaba commended Governor Alex Otti 's unwavering support towards the development of Abia youths.

They said that TechRise Cohort 2 exposed the graduands, equipping them with ICT skills and urged them to keep learning and keep improving.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Lady Oge Maduka while commending Governor Otti for the project, appreciated the partnership between the State and LGAs, adding that the 3 months training was beyond Tech as they also developed leadership, discipline and resilience.

Earlier, the CEO Learn Factory and coordinator of the TechRise programme, Mr Chibueze Ukaegbu while appreciating Governor Otti for his determined efforts in developing ICT skills for Abians, enjoined the graduands to make use of the skills acquired.

Speaking in an interview on behalf of other graduands, Miss Chinwemeri Benjamin thanked Governor Alex Otti for granting them the opportunity of being trained in ICT as well as empowering them with laptops and other largesse he extended to them.

She said that the training they got would make them economically independent and prayed to God to bless Governor Otti abundantly.

The event which attracted many top government officials at the State and Local Government level, featured testimonials from a Cohort 1 graduate, Mr. Charles Ikechukwu who said that he has developed an App that could help in converting waste to wealth, Mr Stephen Uche Onyegbulam who said that his team developed an App that can assist stranded motorists to locate the nearest mechanic and the presentation of certificates to the graduands.