By Peter Okore, Umuahia
The Chief Press Secretary to the Abia State Governor, Chief Ukoha Njoku Ukoha, has urged journalists across the country to continuously upgrade their digital competencies to remain relevant and competitive in the evolving global media landscape.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of a five-day digital skills training programme organised by the Office of the Chief Press Secretary for members of the Government House Press Corps on Friday, June 26, 2026, Ukoha noted that the era of manual processes and paperwork is rapidly giving way to digital innovations.
He, therefore, called on journalists to embrace digital skills to enhance the effective discharge of their professional responsibilities.
According to him, the training was designed to improve digital literacy and enhance productivity among journalists by equipping them with practical knowledge of modern computing and emerging technologies. He said the programme would enable participants to improve efficiency, accuracy and productivity in news gathering, reporting and content creation.
Ukoha added that the digital tools introduced during the training would significantly reduce the time required to complete tasks that previously took hours, describing the five-day programme as a foundation for continuous learning and professional development.
Also speaking, the Head of Information and Press, Government House, Umuahia, Mr. Divine Nwankwo, thanked Governor Alex Otti for his commitment to digital transformation within the state workforce. He commended the governor for extending the ongoing digital training for civil servants to members of the Government House Press Corps, including journalists from private media organisations in Umuahia.
Nwankwo also praised the Chief Press Secretary for organising the impactful programme, saying it had equipped participants with valuable digital skills that would improve their professional performance. He equally appreciated the organisers of the training, led by Engr. Chibueze Ukaegbu, for their dedication and commitment.
Earlier, the Lead Facilitator, Mr. Everest Olekaibe, speaking on behalf of the Chief Executive Officer of Learnfactory Nigeria, Engr. Chibueze Ukaegbu, said the programme covered key foundational digital literacy modules, including computer basics, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, Canva and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Divine Nwankwo
Olekaibe said participants demonstrated commitment and enthusiasm throughout the training, expressing confidence that the knowledge acquired would enhance their professional output in graphic design, editing, transcription, voice production, document processing and digital content creation.
Speaking on Artificial Intelligence, he described AI as an indispensable tool in modern journalism, warning that media professionals who fail to embrace the technology risk being left behind.
He also announced plans for continued mentorship and follow-up support to ensure sustained learning and continuous skill development.
Participants, including Henrietta Ashkodi of Statesman Newspapers and Mr. Uche Nwosu of Daily Independent, expressed appreciation to the Abia State Government and the facilitators for the initiative.
They said the training had broadened their knowledge of digital tools and pledged to apply the skills acquired in carrying out their professional duties.