A five-day digital skills training for journalists in Abia State has ended in Umuahia. The programme, organised by the Office of the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, ran from Monday to Friday. It was part of the state government's TechRise initiative, aimed at improving digital literacy among civil servants and young residents. Governor Alex Otti's administration funded the training to modernise media practice and support digital empowerment across the state.
Kalu Ukoha, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, praised the facilitators for their work and encouraged journalists to continue building their digital skills. He said the training would help media practitioners stay relevant in a rapidly changing industry. The curriculum included computer basics, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Canva design, and concluded with sessions on artificial intelligence and AI prompting.
Everest Olekaibe, Lead Facilitator and UI/UX and Product Management Lead at Learn Factory Nigeria, said participants showed strong commitment throughout the course. "For five days, we provided a foundation in ICT for members of the press in Abia," Olekaibe said. He added that the skills learned would improve efficiency in media tasks such as design, editing, transcription, and voice transformation. "AI has come to stay," he said. "When you keep shouting that AI is taking your job, the truth is that those embracing AI are taking your job because they are being upskilled. We are no longer in the analogue era."
The same journalists being trained to adapt to AI are often the ones reporting uncritically on government digital initiatives without verifying claims. Governor Otti's administration promotes TechRise as a tool for modernisation, yet no data has been shared on past outcomes or participant impact. If the goal is real digital transformation, transparency about results matters as much as the training itself.
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