Fifty top performers from the Abia State government’s TechRise Cohort 2 digital-skills programme have been offered automatic employment, Governor Alex Otti said at the graduation ceremony for 849 trainees in Umuahia.
Announcing the incentives on Wednesday, Otti said each prize-winning participant would receive ₦100,000, while all graduates would get transport stipends to return to their local government areas, laptops, and an additional ₦50,000 Christmas package.
The job offers, he noted, would be confirmed upon submission of the required civil-service documentation.
Otti said the initiative aligns with his administration’s plan to modernise Abia’s public-service architecture through digitisation, reduced paperwork and faster service delivery. “Our objective remains to position Abia as the best and truly number one in the country,” he said.
He also confirmed the death of one trainee, Princewill Ogbonnia, describing it as a “sad note” for the programme and extending condolences to his family.
Programme coordinator and Learn Factory CEO, Chibueze Ukaegbu, said the state was committed to strengthening ICT capacity, urging graduates to deploy their new skills productively.
Speaking on behalf of the cohort, Chinwemeri Benjamin thanked the governor for the support, saying the training had provided a path to economic independence.
