Governor Otti Grants Automatic Employment To 19 TECHRISE Graduands,Charges Them On Continues Learning

By Emma Nwokonna On Aug 22, 2026

Abia State Governor, His Excellency Dr. Alex Otti, has approved automatic employment into the State Civil Service for 19 best-graduating students of TechRise Cohort 3 of the Abia TechRise ICT skills development programme.

The Governor made the announcement on Thursday, August 21, 2026, during the graduation ceremony of 850 youths under Cohort 3 of the Abia TechRise programme held at the JAAC Secretariat, Umuahia.

Governor Otti also announced a cash donation of N100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Naira) each for all 850 graduands. He further directed that the laptops used by the graduands during the training be transferred to them as personal property.

To ensure the deployment of their skills, the Governor directed the Head of Service and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation to liaise with the Chief Information Officer of the State to identify existing ICT gaps in the State, with a view to filling them with TechRise graduands.

The State Chief Executive explained that the decision to employ the top 19 graduands was part of his administration’s strategy to retain the best talents produced by the programme and deploy their skills to improve public service delivery.

“A central part of our value multiplication outlook is to retain the best hands from each cohort of the programme and have them contribute directly in improving social service delivery through the institutions of government,” Gov. Otti stated.

The Governor also directed that a special salary structure be put in place for ICT professionals in the civil service, subject to applicable conditions.

Charging the graduands, Governor Otti urged them to remain committed to continuous learning. He reminded them that the most valuable benefit of the programme was the knowledge and skills acquired. He congratulated the 850 graduands and challenged them to convert their newly acquired skills into viable businesses and innovations, while warning them against using their knowledge for criminal activities.

The Governor commended the graduands who developed a functional drone and directed the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation to work with the team to explore ways of moving the innovation from concept to commercial viability.

Governor Otti further disclosed plans to establish international-standard ICT examination and certification centres in Abia. This, he said, would enable residents to obtain professional certifications required for career advancement without having to travel outside the State. He added that his administration is working with MTN to ensure internet penetration in all nooks and crannies of the state.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Uzor Nwachukwu, noted that the administration of Governor Otti, in partnership with the 17 LGAs, has through the 100 percent cost-free, 3-month technological skills acquisition programme transformed a total of 2,210 youths drawn from Abia and other States of the Federation into architects of the digital future.

“Over the past one year and half, this programme has produced 2,210 youths in 3 study cohorts, both Abians and other Nigerians from other areas of the country living in Abia without discrimination.

“Our dear graduands, over the past three months, you have mastered complex languages, solved intricate problems and turned abstract concepts into functional reality,” Prince Nwachukwu stated.

Speaking on behalf of the Mayors of the 17 LGAs of the State, the Mayor of Umuahia South LGA, Hon. Engr. Chinedu Enwereuzo, described the Governor’s policies and programmes as intentional. He urged the graduands to leverage all they have been taught to improve their future.

Earlier in an address, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Lady Oge Maduka, thanked Governor Otti for his commitment to human capital development and for his deliberate investment in the future of young people in the State.

Lady Maduka noted that beneficiaries of the programme have been equipped with practical ICT skills that can open doors to employment, entrepreneurship and opportunities across the world.

In his remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of LearnFactory and TechRise Coordinator, Engr. Chibueze Ukaegbu, disclosed that TechRise has also trained 2,500 civil servants in computer skills and has resolved to upgrade the number to 5,000.

He said they have authored books on Coding and would be donating 500 of the coding books to smart schools to support education. He added that they are proposing the introduction of the teaching of Coding in primary and secondary schools, and also proposed an “Abia One Stop Platform” to the government as a way of giving back to Abia State Government.

Responding on behalf of the graduands, Mr. Onuoha Victor Chinedu thanked the Governor for the training, noting that the programme has empowered them to face the future with courage. He expressed the hope that other youths would benefit from subsequent training programmes.

The Governor was joined by mayors of Umuahia North, Hon. Smart Ihuoma, Aba North, Hon. Timothy Iheke, Osisioma , Hon. Chidi Agu, Bende, Hon. Deacon Uwabunkeonye Bassey among other senior officials of the government.

Ctz. UKOHA, NJOKU UKOHA
Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Governor of Abia State.
August 21, 2026.