The Abia State Orientation Agency (ABSOA) has issued a public statement clarifying the selection process for the ongoing TechRise 2.0 digital training programme amid concerns raised by some applicants who were not shortlisted.
In an official announcement signed by the Director General of the Agency, Lady Ure Abazie, ABSOA empathized with the numerous youths and residents who expressed disappointment over not being selected for the programme.
The DG however, emphasized that the selection process was conducted transparently and in line with pre-announced criteria.
According to the statement, one of the core eligibility requirements for the programme was that applicants must be from one of the 17 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Abia State. This condition, the agency stated, was clearly stated during the application process and was aimed at ensuring equal and fair representation across all LGAs in the state.
Lady Abazie described as “entirely unfounded” the insinuation that some applicants were excluded because they are not indigenes of the state.
“TechRise 2.0 is a local government-sponsored initiative, and selection was conducted at the grassroots level with full participation of LGA representatives to guarantee transparency, fairness, and equity,” the statement noted.
She revealed that out of 8,165 applications received, only 850 candidates—50 from each LGA—were selected to participate in this first phase of the programme. The agency explained that the limitation in numbers was due to logistical and structural constraints and assured the public that future editions and similar opportunities are underway.
“The selection was not influenced by bias, politics, or ethnicity, but by representational balance,” the statement added.
In a bid to reassure youths and residents of Abia State, ABSOA highlighted that TechRise 2.0 is just one of several empowerment initiatives being championed by the Abia State Government. Through various partnerships and programmes, the state is set to roll out new initiatives in digital skills acquisition, entrepreneurship, agriculture, and technological innovation.
The agency encouraged those who were not selected to remain hopeful and actively engage with upcoming opportunities, noting that the administration remains committed to inclusive development.
“Abia is rising, and everyone has a place in the journey,” the DG concluded, reinforcing the state’s slogan — Abia Ohuru! Isokwa!