The First Lady’s visit on 2nd January 2024 was marked by enthusiasm, collaboration, and a shared commitment to advancing technology and innovation in the state.

Upon her arrival at the SID Center, Mrs. Nonye Soludo was warmly welcomed by Ms. Chinwe Okoli, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Innovation and Business Incubation, along with some key players in the innovation ecosystem.

The Special Adviser then guided the First Lady on a comprehensive tour of the Solution Innovation District (SID) Center.

The event was attended by a distinguished audience, including the Commissioner, government officials, partners, members of the tech community, developers, and beneficiaries of the Code Anambra program—both trainees and trainers.

Ms. Chinwe Okoli opened the event with an opening  remarks, expressing her joy at hosting the First Lady at SID. She highlighted the significant milestones achieved by SID since its establishment, including the ongoing Code Anambra program, which aims to train 2000 Ndi Anambra on various code and advanced digital skills.

Also, stated that SID is committed to training the youth of Anambra State in technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

Distinguished personalities in the innovation ecosystem also delivered their welcoming addresses and good wishes.

Among them were Prof. K. K Nwazor, the Dean of the Faculty of Physical Sciences at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, who discussed the collaborative efforts between the university and SID in advancing science and technology.

Frank Uzochukwu Oli, the Principal Manager at the Nigeria Office for Developing Indigenous Telecoms Sector (NODITS), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), expressed his joy over the positive impact witnessed from Code Anambra beneficiaries.

He affirmed NCC’s partnership with SID to continually build human capacity among the youth in the state.

Mr. Christian Udechukwu, Commissioner for Industry, highlighted the Soludo administration’s focus on sustainable human capital development, particularly among the youth, and commended the administration’s achievements in less than two years.

Mrs. Amaka Obi, TC Chairman Idemili South, encouraged the audience to give their best in acquiring digital skills, emphasizing the importance of such skills in today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape.

The First Lady, Mama Anambra, expressed her gratitude to Ms. Chinwe Okoli for her dedication in driving the innovation ecosystem in the state, describing her as a “powerful lady.” She underscored the significance of technology as the current oil boom, urging attendees to leverage the digital skills provided by the government to become self-sustained through remote work.

The attendees, visibly pleased, expressed profound gratitude for the First Lady’s words of encouragement and support, marking a positive and promising start to the year 2024 at the Solution Innovation District.