18/10/2022
IMO STATE GOVERNMENT UNVEILS THE IMO DIGITAL ECONOMY AGENDA (IDEA) 2020-2026
Governor Hope Uzordinma through the ministry of Digital Economy and e-Government has unveiled the IMO DIGITAL ECONOMY AGENDA ( IDEA) 2022-2026 in a fire side chat event on Monday 17, October 2022 where he was excellently represented by Dr. Chimezie Amadi the Hon. Commissioner for Digital Economy and e-Government, Imo State.
The event which had attendees from the Imo Tech And Innovation, Startup and business community was a super engaging one as the commissioner who is a young and tech savvy fellow communicated the vision of the Imo state Governor for the IMO DIGITAL ECONOMY AGENDA (IDEA) 2020-2026 with a good understanding of the pain points of the youths and the imo communities at large. He said that the Imo Digital Economy Agenda (IDEA) 2022-2026 is a 5 year medium –term Plan of the Imo State Government, envisioned by His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma. The (IDEA) 2022-2026 is the State Government's policy document formulated to harness ICT potential to provide new solutions to developmental challenges and foster economic growth, competitiveness, enhance access to information and knowledge, poverty eradication and social inclusion. the implementation of (IDEA) 2022-2026 will maximize the benefits of Digital Economy by laying the foundation for digitization of state Government Institutions for enhanced productivity and quality service delivery, foster strategic partnership with the tech ecosystem, facilitate broadband pe*******on across towns and villages to enable fast paced socio-economic growth in the state.
The Hon. commissioner said that the IDEA 2022-2026 is anchored on six (6) strategic pillars (Digital Literacy and Skill, Solid Infrastructure, Service infrastructure, Advocacy, Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E), Collaboration and Partnership). It also includes the Vision to Position Imo as a Leading Digital Economy State in Nigeria and the Mission to build smart cities which leverage digital technologies to drive governance, innovation and entrepreneurship while promoting value creation and prosperity for all.
The IDEA 2022-2026 Mandate is Technology-Opportunities-People (TOP)- To develop and adopt Digital Technology for creating people-focused opportunities and economic prosperity.
He said the expected Outcomes from the Implementation of the Imo Digital Economy Agenda (IDEA) 2022-2026 are:
1) Position Imo as the Digital skills Hub in Africa: With sustained digital literacy and skills programme, Imo will be positioned as the Africa’s highest supplier of market entry and high level digital skills.
2) Create jobs of the Future. Imo will become a leader in Digital Entrepreneurship Development in Nigeria.
3) Meet the Growing Global Demand for Tech Skills: : Re-skilled and up-skilled youth with Fourth Industrial Revolution (4iR) skill set will position Imo state as the net exporter of industry ready workforce that will drive the global digital economy.
4) Create opportunities for Imo Digital Startups to solving local and global Challenges: An Enabling environment that will spur ground breaking innovative solutions for local and global challenges leveraging emerging technologies.
5) Enhanced creative thinking and complex problem solving skills.
6) Provide an enabling environment for public sector, private sector, civil societies, and development partners’ participation in training 5 million Nigerians.
7) Creation of a Digital Skills Database to identify the digitally literate Nigerians and their levels of competence.
The event ended with closing remarks from Prince Eze Ugochukwu, SA to the Imo State Governor on Public Enlightenment, Comr. Eric Uwakwe, SA to the Imo State Governor on Youths Affairs and Mr. Chike, Coordinator of the Imo Tech and Innovation Centre who were all present at the event to support the vision of Governor Hope Uzordinma for the IMO DIGITAL ECONOMY AGENDA (IDEA) 2020-2026
