Imo State is taking a bold leap into the future — one that blends innovation, education, and technology to secure lasting prosperity for its youth.
Governor Hope Uzodimma has revealed plans to transform the state’s celebrated SkillUp Imo Initiative into a permanent institution through the creation of the University of Innovation, Science and Technology, Omuma — a move he described as a cornerstone for the state’s digital revolution.
The announcement came shortly after the governor received the official certificate of approval from the National Universities Commission (NUC), marking the formal birth of a university designed to nurture the next generation of creators, coders, and changemakers.
From Training to Transformation
In just a few years, the SkillUp Imo Initiative has empowered more than 50,000 young people with vital digital and technical skills — a milestone that has turned Imo into a model for youth-focused innovation in Nigeria.
But Governor Uzodimma believes the journey is only beginning.
He explained that the new university represents a deliberate effort to institutionalize this momentum, ensuring that the gains from SkillUp Imo evolve into a long-term ecosystem of creativity, entrepreneurship, and technological advancement.
“Our record with the SkillUp Imo Initiative inspired us to formalize what began as a movement,” the governor said. “This university will serve as the legal and educational foundation for building a future where young people are not waiting for jobs — they are creating them.”
A University Built for the Digital Age
Unlike traditional institutions focused purely on academic qualifications, the University of Innovation, Science and Technology will prioritize practical knowledge, entrepreneurship, and global competitiveness.
Graduates will not only be prepared for employment but equipped to become innovators driving Nigeria’s digital economy — from tech startups to AI development and digital manufacturing.
The governor emphasized that the university will be more than an academic establishment — it will function as a hub of ideas, invention, and opportunity.
“Though maintaining a fourth state-owned university may seem financially demanding,” he noted, “its true worth lies in the wealth of talent it will generate, the innovation it will inspire, and the industries it will birth across Imo State.”
Building a Generation of Digital Pioneers
By embedding the SkillUp model into a university structure, Imo State is effectively creating a self-sustaining system where training, research, and entrepreneurship thrive together.
The move signals a powerful shift from short-term skill acquisition to institutionalized digital excellence, positioning Imo as a technology and innovation hub not only in Nigeria but across Africa.
Governor Uzodimma described the project as a visionary investment—a foundation for building a digital economy powered by a youth population that is future-ready, self-reliant, and globally competitive.
The Legacy of SkillUp, Reimagined
What started as a skills empowerment drive has now become a roadmap for transformation — one that blends education with enterprise, learning with leadership, and innovation with opportunity.
As Imo State turns the SkillUp dream into a permanent educational powerhouse, it’s clear that the vision goes beyond classrooms and certificates — it’s about giving every young person the power to create, to lead, and to shape the future from their ow
