AI, Tech Jobs: Anambra Deputy Governor Challenges IT Experts To Turn South-East Into Global Tech Hub

By Mokwugwo Solomon

Anambra State Deputy Governor, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim, has challenged Information Technology (IT) professionals across the South-East to harness Artificial Intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies to create jobs, empower youths and accelerate economic development.

Ibezim said the South-East must move beyond discussions about technological advancement and deliberately position itself as a globally competitive technology corridor capable of generating employment, attracting investments and driving economic growth.

He stated this on Friday, November 13, 2026, while representing Governor Chukwuma Soludo at the first South-East Zonal IT Assembly of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), held in Awka, Anambra State.

The 2026 assembly, organised in partnership with the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN) and IEEE Southeast, was themed, “Technology-Enhanced Development in the Era of Artificial Intelligence: The Pros and Cons.”

The Deputy Governor described Anambra as a state with the academic institutions, intellectual capacity and human resources required to build a competitive technology ecosystem.

He urged IT professionals, researchers and industry leaders across the region to strengthen collaboration and establish cross-state partnerships that would translate technological innovations into practical economic opportunities.

“Technology must go beyond innovation and become a practical tool for job creation, youth empowerment and economic transformation,” Ibezim charged the participants.

Highlighting the Soludo administration’s digital development initiatives, he identified the Solution Innovation District (SID) as a major platform for building digital capacity, supporting startups and promoting technology-driven entrepreneurship.

He disclosed that the state government had trained thousands of youths in digital and vocational skills to equip them for self-employment and enable them to become employers of labour.

Ibezim also highlighted the distribution of thousands of laptops to head teachers and principals across public and mission schools as part of the administration’s commitment to its “Everything Technology and Technology Everywhere” agenda.

He explained that making modern technology accessible to citizens remained central to Governor Soludo’s vision of building a modern, technology-driven society.

The Deputy Governor reaffirmed the government’s determination to position Anambra as one of the world’s recognised technology corridors.

264,000 Anambra Residents Acquire Digital Skills

Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Innovation and Business Incubation and Chief Executive Officer of the Solution Innovation District, Ms Chinwe Okoli, said the Soludo administration was convinced that Anambra’s economic future would be driven by a knowledge-based economy powered by skilled and innovative people.

According to her, the state’s priority is to equip young people with competitive skills that are relevant locally and exportable to the global economy.

Okoli disclosed that through the 1 Million Anambra Digital Tribe Initiative and Code Anambra programmes, more than 264,000 indigenes had acquired digital skills free of charge.

She said the state was targeting one million beneficiaries by 2030.

She further revealed that the Solution Innovation District currently supports 111 active startups and has deployed ₦364 million in seed funding to support emerging businesses.

NCS Seeks Stronger South-East Collaboration

In his remarks, the South-East Zonal Coordinator of the Nigeria Computer Society and the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria, Chidiebere Ugwuegbulam, described the gathering as a collective commitment to bringing the region’s people, institutions and professional expertise together for sustainable development.

He said the assembly was designed not merely to discuss technology and Artificial Intelligence but also to build relationships capable of transforming knowledge into opportunities and strengthening professional participation in the ICT sector.

Ugwuegbulam emphasised the importance of regional cooperation in ensuring that the South-East maximises its potential in the rapidly evolving digital economy.

Nebo: Deploy AI To Tackle Nigeria’s Major Challenges

Delivering the keynote address, former Minister of Power and former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, called for the responsible adoption of Artificial Intelligence to address critical human and societal challenges in Nigeria.

Nebo, who is currently the Vice-Chancellor of the University on the Niger, urged stakeholders to deploy AI-driven solutions to tackle persistent problems in electricity, infrastructure, education, healthcare, unemployment and industrial productivity.

He stressed that technological advancement must be guided by ethical responsibility and deliberately directed towards improving human welfare.

According to him, the true value of Artificial Intelligence lies not simply in its sophistication but in its ability to provide solutions to real-life problems and improve the quality of life.

NCS Chairman Urges Stakeholders To Move Beyond Talk

Earlier, the Chairman of the Nigeria Computer Society, Anambra State Chapter, Engr. Okeya Chukwemeka David, described the assembly as a significant milestone in advancing digital innovation, professional collaboration and technological development across the South-East.

He said the gathering provided an opportunity to harness the transformative potential of Information Technology for sustainable regional and national growth.

While appreciating Governor Soludo for his leadership, support and commitment to positioning Anambra as a destination for technology, innovation and digital transformation, Okeya urged participants to translate discussions into concrete outcomes.

“We must move beyond conversations to meaningful partnerships, practical solutions, knowledge exchange and actionable commitments that will strengthen the South-East’s position in Nigeria’s digital economy,” he urged.

The assembly brought together technology professionals, academics, policymakers, researchers and industry stakeholders to examine the opportunities and challenges of Artificial Intelligence while exploring ways to accelerate digital transformation across the South-East and Nigeria.

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