Excitement as Anambra youths gather to acquire digital innovation skills

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By Madu Obi

Hundreds of youths from the 21 local government areas of Anambra State have begun a weeklong skills acquisition programme designed to celebrate innovation, foster collaboration, and chart the course for the digital future of the state and the African continent.

The excited youths, who came from secondary schools and tertiary institutions, are expected to share ideas on the digital innovation as an avenue for self employment after leaving school.

The event, which has the theme, “Creating the future of Africa now,” is expected to leverage the transformative power of technology and innovation in building an Africa that thrives in the digital economy.

Special Adviser to Governor Chukwuma Soludo on Innovation and Business Incubation, Chinwe Okoli, said at the opening ceremony that the establishment of the Solution Innovation District (SID) in the state in 2022, has proved to be a cornerstone of the governor's agenda to build Anambra’s digital tribe.

She said: "This bold initiative has since become a beacon for innovation, nurturing startups, empowering young talents, and driving the state’s transition into a knowledge-based economy.

"From hosting groundbreaking training programmes to developing the framework for the Anambra Digital Economy Blueprint, SID has made remarkable strides in positioning Anambra as a hub for technology and entrepreneurship in Africa. Today, this platform stands as a testament to how visionary leadership can ignite transformational change."

She explained that some of the topics to be handled by experts include demystifying innovation, the digital ecosystem, how emerging tech trends can shape our future, as well as the challenges and opportunities of digital transformation in emerging economies.

According to her, the youths and young professionals would also be exposed to governance efficiency and leveraging Artificial Intelligence, AI, for impactful service delivery, startup conference and Tradenovation fair to celebrate creativity and enterprise, and eventually launch the one million Anambra Digital Tribe and the Anambra Angel Network.

"This lineup is designed not only to inspire but also to empower participants with actionable insights and opportunities to innovate, network, and thrive", she stated.

On ground to provide technical expertise on the programme is the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy.