By Goodnews Eminue
Governor Umo Eno has approved the ARISE Tech Talent Accelerator Programme, a digital skills development initiative aimed at equipping young people in Akwa Ibom State with globally competitive technology expertise.
The programme will be implemented by the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Science and Digital Economy and delivered at the Akwa Ibom Youth Development Hub, currently under construction by the state government.
In a statement, the Honourable Commissioner for Science and Digital Economy, Frank Ekpenyong, urged interested applicants to visit the Akwa Ibom State Employment Portal to submit their applications.
The ARISE Tech Talent Accelerator Programme is designed to train 1,200 youths in high-demand digital disciplines aligned with global workforce standards. The initiative underscores the state government’s commitment to youth empowerment, digital transformation, and economic diversification under the ARISE Agenda.
Selected participants will undergo three months of intensive hands-on training, mentorship, and career-readiness preparation in key digital fields including Mobile App Development, Data Analytics, Cybersecurity, Cloud Computing and DevOps, Digital Marketing, and WordPress Development.
Successful trainees will also receive support to sit for internationally recognised certification examinations relevant to their chosen tracks, including AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner, CompTIA Security+, Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate, Google Digital Marketing and E-commerce Certificate, WordPress Certification, and Flutter Certified Application Developer.
Applications opened on Monday, March 2, 2026, and will close on Saturday, March 14, 2026, at 11:55 p.m. Applications submitted outside the stipulated period will not be considered.
Eligibility criteria require applicants to be indigenes or residents of Akwa Ibom State, aged between 18 and 35 years, with a minimum qualification of SSCE/WASSCE. Applicants must also demonstrate basic digital literacy, commitment, and availability for the full duration of the training.
The selection process will include online application submission, a Computer-Based Test assessment, and final shortlisting and onboarding. Successful applicants will be notified through the official portal and the contact details provided during registration.
The first cohort of the programme is scheduled to commence on March 23, 2026.
The government noted that the initiative provides participants with practical, industry-relevant digital skills, opportunities to build professional portfolios, access to certification pathways, and positioning for remote employment, freelancing, and entrepreneurship within the digital economy.
Applicants have been advised to apply only through the official portal, stressing that the Ministry does not charge any application fee and that any request for payment should be reported immediately.
