Benue State has reached a defining moment in its digital transformation journey with the signing of a strategic partnership between the Benue Digital Infrastructure Company (BDIC), and Cisco Networking Academy at the MEA (Middle East & Africa) Cisco International Systems (CIS) Annual Partners Conference held at the Le Royal Méridien Resort, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from 13th to 15th January 2026. The Partnership agreement was executed by the Group Managing Director/CEO of BDIC and President/CEO of AfDIC, Gbande-Hembaor Terwase AFCPN marking a major milestone in Benue State’s drive to build a digitally skilled and globally competitive workforce.
The partnership is a direct outcome of the bold and intentional digital transformation agenda of His Excellency, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, Executive Governor of Benue State, who has consistently positioned digital skills as a core pillar for economic growth, youth empowerment, and public sector reform.
Within the first year of his administration, the Benue State Government initiated an ambitious and achievable training 10,000 youths in digital and technology-enabled skills, while simultaneously rolling out the ongoing digital literacy and e-governance training of over 40,000 civil servants to modernize public service delivery, improve efficiency, and strengthen transparency across government institutions.
The Cisco Networking Academy partnership is, therefore, a strategic justification and validation of the state government’s sustained investments in digital skills development. It provides a globally recognized framework to scale, standardize, and internationalize Benue State’s digital skills initiatives, ensuring that training outcomes are aligned with global industry standards and labor market demands.
Under the agreement, Benue State will train 23,000 youths biannually using Cisco’s internationally accredited curricula in networking, cybersecurity, digital literacy, and emerging technologies, with certifications that significantly enhance global employability, remote work readiness, and international job placement opportunities for Benue youths.
Cisco Networking Academy is one of the world’s largest and most respected digital skills and workforce development platforms, operating in over 190 countries and having trained tens of millions of learners globally. Its certifications in areas such as networking, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and IT essentials are widely recognized and trusted by global employers, multinational corporations, governments, and academic institutions as benchmarks for industry-ready skills.
Cisco certifications are consistently ranked among the most valued IT credentials worldwide, significantly improving employability, career mobility, and access to global technology job markets for certified professionals.
Beyond youth empowerment, the partnership strengthens government capacity by supporting continuous digital upskilling of civil servants, reinforcing the state’s transition to e-governance, data-driven decision-making, and digitally enabled service delivery. Cisco Networking Academy’s presence brings access to world-class learning platforms, instructor development, and industry-relevant certifications that position Benue State as a leading subnational government in digital human capital development in Nigeria and across Africa
The signing of the partnership at the MEA (Middle East & Africa) CIS Annual Conference in Dubai further underscores Benue State’s rising international profile and credibility in digital infrastructure, skills development, and governance innovation. It reflects the state government’s deliberate strategy to leverage global technology partnerships to accelerate inclusive growth, reduce unemployment, and prepare its youth and workforce for the future of work.
With this milestone, Benue State has firmly consolidated its digital transformation agenda, translating policy vision into structured, scalable, and globally competitive outcomes. The Cisco Networking Academy partnership stands as a powerful testament to the commitment of the Benue State Government under the leadership of Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, to building a resilient digital economy and positioning Benue State at the forefront of Nigeria’s and Africa’s digital revolution.
