The Imo State Government and DIGITAL SME have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to launch a digital skills development initiative aimed at enhancing the state’s digital economy.
This partnership according to a statement on Monday aligns with the Africa-European Union Partnership’s digital development goals and aims to strengthen both parties’ digital ecosystems through freelancing, mentorship, and digital skills training programs.
The parties said the freelancing program will connect European companies with digital professionals from Imo State, providing these professionals with valuable development opportunities.
The statement highlighted that the initiative is expected to improve socio-economic conditions in Imo State, with a particular focus on empowering the local female workforce.
The President of DIGITAL SME, Oliver Grün, said that the partnership with the Imo State Government will open up more opportunities for European digital SMEs, who will be able to benefit from insights into tech market dynamics in West Africa and access to local talent.
He said, “Cooperation between SMEs from like-minded regions is essential for building an inclusive and innovative digital economy that benefits everyone, and this is just the beginning of our worldwide collaboration efforts.”
Further, they noted that the mentorship program will link European businesses with young people in Imo State, offering them guidance on digital careers and the knowledge needed to succeed in both national and international markets.
This interaction will also help European businesses understand the challenges faced in Africa and Nigeria, facilitating internationalisation opportunities, the statement added.
On his part, the Commissioner for Digital Economy and E-Government, Imo State, Chimezie Amadi, remarked, “This collaborative partnership with the European Digital SME Alliance will foster innovation and entrepreneurship while creating new market opportunities for startups and innovators in Imo State.”
Digital skills training is recognised as a means of increasing the quality of life in Imo State by equipping young people with relevant digital skills that can connect them to new job opportunities arising from the global digital economy.
To this end, DIGITAL SME noted it will share best practices on upskilling and reskilling young people interested in working in the digital sector and, through a “train the trainer” approach, support the creation of a digital skills training hub.
According to the release, the government of Imo State will oversee the dissemination of the knowledge acquired from these exchanges through organising local training on digital skills.
This agreement is an additional step by DIGITAL SME in collaborating with international partners as part of its commitment to support efforts to establish a productive dialogue with public and private stakeholders.
The European DIGITAL SME Alliance is the largest network of ICT small and medium-sized enterprises in Europe.
