...... AS ANAMBRA YOUTHS EMBRACE NEW DIGITAL ECONOMY
Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo has commissioned the temporary site for the Solution Innovation District located at De Destination Hub, Awka, Anambra state.
The Innovation district is however a one-stop shop for youths in the areas of services and innovation, which is geared towards provide training, incubation, and access to free internet for youths with steady power supply
Performing the function, Governor Soludo congratulated the 20,000 Anambra youths who recently participated in the initial training programme of the Solution Innovation District, for acquiring various digital skills online.
The Governor however thanked Microsoft and Wootlab Foundation for partnering with the state government to make the project a reality, revealing that the current Government House will become the permanent site of the Solution Innovation District once he moves into the ongoing new government house under construction.
He added that the district is a sign of the state government's commitment to developing Anambra youths.
"The world may be going east or west, but Nigeria must go through necessary disruptive changes. The removal of subsidy and floating of exchange rate are just some of these changes. It is quite auspicious that we are opening this district at this critical time.
"Our greatest resource is our human capital, and we want to mine it to its infinite elasticity. Only those who can see tomorrow. Only those who plan and work towards it, can control the future. I ask our youths to look up to opportunities in these ongoing disruptive changes.
"In a digital age, human capital appreciates with continuous usage. We must keep on innovating and acquiring multiple scalable skills to control the future.
"We want the youths and children of ndi Anambra to be prepared for this future. Invention, innovation, and technology," Governor Soludo said.
"We must focus on tomorrow. The old order is gone, so let's not cry to bring it back. We are empowering and training our youths to control the future and become champions of the world.
"Technology is our mantra. We want to get technology to become our culture. Everything technology and technology everywhere!
"The 0.01 criminals that cause nuisance in our society cannot define us. They are completely insignificant," the Governor stressed.
Earlier, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Innovation and Business Incubation, Ms Chinwe Okoli commended the Governor for his commitment in actualizing the vision which she explained is quite timely.
She said "Sir, I must say it is quite timely and I am honoured to serve as the driver of this impactful program."
Ladies and Gentlemen, I am honoured to have you all here today to mark the opening of the Solution Innovation District take off centre. Yes, a take-off centre because this is only a tip of the iceberg to what is coming at the permanent site of the Solution Innovation District.
She stressed that in March this year, Mr Governor, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo. C.F.R officially launched SID to drive the Anambra State’s innovation and business incubation program, a rationale for establishing the Solution Innovation District is to give Ndi Anambra the platform and the ecosystem to unleash their creativity, explore their ideas so as to play active roles in actualizing Mr Governor’s vision of a “prosperous and livable smart megacity” known to be the digital and creative capital of Nigeria.
She further stated that "Mr Governor has graciously opened the take-off centre for SID, I will simply give an overview of what we do here so you know where and how you may key in.
SID is a platform for you to innovate, create, ideate, invent and to give your talents the wings to fly. Yes, many of you here are bundle of talents."
"At SID, we provide you steady power supply, high speed internet, basic amenities, clean and conducive office space for you to focus on building your dream solutions."
She however maintained that the Solution Innovation District is working to build, activate, and scale innovation in Anambra State.
"We are building an ecosystem where you can acquire digital skills and opportunities to thrive by offering your service or working on-site or remotely.
"We started our program with LevelUp Anambra and we have successfully trained 20,000 Ndi Anambra on Digital Skills in partnership with Microsoft and wootlab foundation. Cohort one and cohort two are done and during that program, Mr governor promised an incentive- internship placement for 10 persons for 6 months at SID. And Laptop award to another 10 persons."
She said that these persons were top performers in their various courses. We have the winners here and it will be my pleasure to invite Mr Governor, the lover of innovatio present them their internship letter and laptops respectively.
The Commissioner for Youth Development, Mr Patrick Agha Mba and the Commissioner for Industry, Mr Christian Udechukwu respectively said that the district is in line with Governor Soludo's commitment to develop Anambra youths.
Best beneficiaries of the "Level Up Anambra" digital training were presented with laptops.
The Speaker Anambra State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Somtochukwu Udeze, Head of Service, Barr. Theodora Okwy Igwegbe, Chief Protocol Officer, Hon Chinedu Nwoye (Glamour) and other Members of Anambra State Executive Council, Members of Anambra State House of Assembly, Transition Committee Chairmen, among others attended the event.