The Edo State government has announced plans to build 25 Computer Based Test (CBT) centres across its 18 local government areas, as part of a wider strategy to deepen digital skills and expand access to technology at the grassroots.
The Edo State Commissioner for Education, Dr Paddy Iyamu, disclosed this on Tuesday at the flag-off ceremony for the training of 800 students in Artificial Intelligence, revealing that construction of five CBT centres would commence within the year.
According to Iyamu, the initiative is designed to ensure that young people across the state are adequately equipped for the demands of a fast-evolving digital economy, while removing barriers to access caused by limited testing and training infrastructure.
He explained that the 800 students selected for the AI programme would undergo intensive training in Advanced Data Analysis and Visualisation, Data Science and Machine Learning, Data Architecture, and Geospatial Data Science.
The programme, he said, is being delivered in partnership with Google International, which will also certify the participants upon completion, thereby giving them globally recognised credentials.
Iyamu noted that Governor Monday Okpebholo approved the initiative as part of his vision to provide equal opportunities for children and youths, regardless of background.
“The Governor plans to give every child a seat at the table of success,” the commissioner said, stressing that the administration’s priorities were firmly rooted in human capital development.
He contrasted the government’s focus on education and innovation with what he described as misplaced priorities elsewhere, adding that Governor Okpebholo was more interested in building schools and technology hubs than investing public resources abroad.
“This government means well for you,” Iyamu told the students. “The Governor has approved the revamp of the tech hub at Shoprite. Do not let go of this opportunity.”
He further described Governor Okpebholo as an IT expert with a strong background in software development, noting that his technical expertise has been applied to solving real-world challenges beyond Nigeria.
“Many people do not know it,” Iyamu said. “He has been developing software to provide solutions to challenges across the world.”
The commissioner urged participants to take full advantage of the training, noting that the skills they would acquire were globally relevant and capable of positioning them competitively in the international job market.
He also revealed that the state government was in advanced discussions with CISCO, as part of efforts to expand partnerships and ensure that a large proportion of Edo youths are “data ready”.
“We are doing a serious drive in terms of building CBT centres so that we can train many of our students,” Iyamu said, adding that the centres would significantly boost the state’s capacity to deliver large-scale digital training and assessments.
The CBT centres and AI training programme form part of Edo State’s broader plan to build a future-ready workforce, foster innovation, and ensure that technology-driven opportunities reach communities across the state rather than being concentrated in urban centres alone.
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