By Chinwendu Obienyi

The platform, developed in partnership with the University of California, Berkeley and the US Market Access Center, aims to connect Imo’s growing pool of software developers, data scientists, and digital designers to employers across Lagos, London, Dubai, Silicon Valley, and beyond.

Speaking at the official launch of the platform, Governor Uzodimma emphasized that the talent hub is not just a tech initiative but a strategic economic intervention designed to inject foreign earnings directly into local communities.

“With the Imo Talent Hub, we are creating a pipeline that directly connects skilled youth in Owerri to employers in London, New York, and Dubai.

As these professionals begin earning in foreign currencies, remittances to families in Imo will rise, and Nigeria’s overall foreign exchange inflows will grow”, the governor said.

Anchored in the state’s flagship digital economy programme, Skill Up Imo, the hub is targeting the placement of 100,000 Imo-trained tech professionals in paid global roles by 2026.

Uzodinma said, “Imo is moving decisively from an analogue economy to a digital future. By partnering with global institutions, we are equipping our youth with the skills, networks, and confidence to build world-class startups right here in Owerri.”

According to him, the goal is to empower 300,000 residents over the next five years and link Imo’s tech ecosystem to global markets. Since launching in 2022, Skill Up Imo has trained over 40,000 young people in cutting-edge fields such as software engineering, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and UX design—creating one of Nigeria’s largest digital talent pools.

Now, ImoTalentHub takes that classroom success global. Each graduate receives a verified professional profile, project portfolio, and access to smart contracts that automate KYC checks, escrow payments, and tax compliance.

This means a fintech startup in Shoreditch or a health tech firm in Dubai can seamlessly hire backend engineers in Owerri, pay in foreign currencies, and remain fully compliant with international standards.

Also speaking during the launch, the Commissioner for Digital Economy, Dr Chimezie Amadi, added that data generated by the hub will inform smarter policy, stimulate foreign earnings and demonstrate Nigeria’s capacity to export high-value knowledge at scale.

For his part, the Managing Director of the US Market Access Center, Chris Burry, said, “We see in Imo the talent and determination that built Silicon Valley. Working alongside UC Berkeley and the state government, we will mentor the next generation of founders who can deliver solutions for Nigeria, Africa and the wider world.”