By Onyekachi Eze
Indigenes of Imo State numbering over 300 have been successfully trained on a workshop geared towards starting up a career in Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence.
The two day workshop was held at Rockview Hotel Owerri, which started from 25 to 26 November, 2019, with participants drawn from the 27 Council Areas of the State.
It was organized by Imo State Ministry of Technology Development, in partnership with Silicon Value USA, and Six Factors and Motion wares.
Declaring the workshop open, the State Commissioner for Technology Development, Nze Meekam Mgbenwelu stated that the program is targeted at training and re-orienting Web Designers and Developers, Mobile Application Designers and Developers.
According to the Commissioner, System Programmers, Technology Enthusiasts, Information Communication Technology (ICT) Professionals, as well as Networking Experts are the beneficiaries.
Nze Meekam Mgbenwelu opined that the administration of His Excellency, Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha is committed to the progress of the State, stressing that part of the progress is seen with his involvement in getting Imo masses equipped with new technological awareness.
Reiterating his passion in carrying out the task of aligning Imo populace to ICT, the Oru West Commissioner disclosed of his Ministry’s readiness in checkmating computer literacy and doing the needful in getting both youths and workers trained in basic skills.
Furthermore, he revealed that his ministry with the full support of the State government is ever ready to welcome partners who would join hands in the repositioning of the State in ICT.
However, he enjoined the beneficiaries/trainees to see this period as a great opportunity to self reliant, which the Rebuild Imo government promised to deliver.
Reacting, a trainee from Mbaitoli LGA, Austin Chukwu Austin commended the State government for the rare opportunity.
Chukwu told Trumpeta Correspondent that they neither paid a dime for registration nor asked to bring anything except their internet enabled laptops, hence described the exercise as a right step in a right direction.
“This is quite commendable and surprising too because our government in the past never thought it necessary to organise such for the new generation technologies. This is a welcome development”, Chukwu said.
Another participant and a student of Federal University of Technology, Owerri, FUTO, Precious Opara expressed optimism that the masses can at least have a direct interface with the State government and get trained for free.
He added that this would avail them the privilege of harnessing their computer literacy level in the reformation of Imo.
