Imo State Government has announced that the state preparedness to host Nigeria’s first sub-national Artificial Intelligence Institute (AII) to boost the state economy.
This initiative is expected to position Imo as a leader in AI innovation and entrepreneurship, creating new opportunities for residents and contributing to the state’s economic prosperity.
This was disclosed by the state Commissioner for Digital Economy and E-Government, Dr. Chimezie Amadi at One-day workshop on “Regulatory and Policy framework for Universal Access of Telecom organised by the University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (UAES) Umuagwo in collaboration with the ministry held in the institution.
Amadi said the institute will focus on advancing AI education, research, and entrepreneurship, with the potential to attract investments, create jobs, and stimulate economic activity in the state.
“Imo State is not only addressing the digital divide but actively pioneering universal access and digital inclusion through bold policy, strategic partnerships, and people-focused innovation,” he said.
As part of plans for the future, he disclosed that the state government would soon commission its multimillion naira “Imo Digital City” where the institute will be established.
He noted that despite progress in urban areas, rural communities still lack access to critical digital services and opportunities.
He further noted that urban-rural disparities result in unequal access to essential services, with cities often having greater access to education, healthcare, and employment opportunities, while rural communities lag behind.
To address this challenge, he said the Imo State government has implemented several initiatives aimed at bridging urban-rural gap, including the SkillUp Imo Project, which aims to train 300,000 Imolites in digital skills by 2026. “Over 50,000 youths have already been trained, with access to startup kits, mentorship, and remote job opportunities.”
