The Abia State Government has trained 840 civil servants in digital skills and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in partnership with LusterHeights Limited and Google Hustle Academy.
The training is part of the state government’s ongoing Digital Skills and Artificial Intelligence Capacity-Building Programme, aimed at improving the skills of civil servants and making public service delivery more effective.
The training is taking place at the Ministry of Women Affairs Complex in Umuahia. It is designed to help civil servants improve their productivity, work more efficiently and use modern technology in carrying out their duties.
A statement by the Director of Information in the Office of the Head of Service, Adaeze Ralph-Igbokwe, said the programme was being coordinated by the Office of the Head of Service. The initiative is expected to equip 15,000 civil servants across the state with essential digital skills.
According to the statement, the first phase of the programme is targeting 3,000 civil servants, with the training being conducted in batches.
So far, three batches have completed the training. Batch A had 300 participants, Batch B had 312, while Batch C had 228 participants. This brings the total number of trained civil servants to 840.
Meanwhile, the Head of Service, Benson Ojeikere, has encouraged civil servants across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to take advantage of the programme by acquiring digital skills and embracing modern technology.
Ojeikere said the administration of Governor Alex Otti was committed to building a modern, efficient and technology-driven civil service that could meet the demands of good governance.
He urged civil servants who had not yet participated in the programme to prepare for their turn as the training continued. He stressed that digital skills were no longer optional but necessary for effective performance in today’s public service.
The Head of Service also emphasised the need to equip civil servants with the knowledge and skills required to improve their performance and contribute to the ongoing transformation of the Abia State Civil Service.
The programme is part of the state government’s efforts to promote digital literacy, improve efficiency and prepare public servants to meet the changing demands of governance in the modern world.
