Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, has emerged Digital Governor of the Year at the 2024 National Information Technology Merit Awards (NITMA) organised by the Nigerian Computer Society (NCS).
The awards ceremony held Thursday at the Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos, celebrates the core values of the association- excellence, integrity, innovation and impact, according to its organisiers.
Uzodimma emerged victorious in a category that included the Governors of Plateau, Jigawa, and Benue states.
The award highlights the Imo State government’s efforts to leverage technology for governance, economic growth, and service delivery, NCS says.
Speaking through his representative, Uzodimma expressed gratitude for the recognition, describing it as a strong endorsement and a testament to the tech community in Imo State.
According to him, his administration is commitment to fostering digital transformation and building an environment where innovation thrives.
For him, the award underscores Imo State’s progress in areas such as e-governance, digital education, and ICT skill development
Under Uzodinma’s leadership, through the Ministry of Digital Economy and e-Government, Imo State has introduced the SkillUpImo Programme, which equips young people with in-demand tech skills. Graduates of this programme are now eligible for the Nigeria Jubilee Fellowship Programme (NJFP), a 12-month initiative co-funded by the European Union and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
This programme provides fresh graduates with practical work experience, networking opportunities, and a monthly stipend of N100,000, reinforcing the governor’s promise to support job creation and personal development.
Another initiative is the Imo Digital Identity Project, designed to address the low uptake of the National Identity Number (NIN) in the state. Imo currently has the lowest NIN registration rate among the five eastern states, with only 1.5 million of its five million residents enrolled, most of whom live in urban areas. Governor Uzodinma’s administration, in collaboration with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), aims to raise this figure to 70% within six months. The project employs trained local field officers to conduct registration drives in rural areas, leveraging town halls, markets, and traditional palaces to reach underrepresented communities.
The National Information Technology Merit Awards, a flagship event of the NCS, annually recognizes individuals, organizations, and government entities driving technological advancement in Nigeria. Founded in 1978, as the Computer Association of Nigeria (COAN), the NCS is the largest body of IT professionals in the country.