ICT skills key to empowering women, girls – Oluremi Tinubu
Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has emphasized the importance of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) skills in empowering women and girls.
Speaking at the commissioning of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) Community ICT Centre in collaboration with the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), Mrs. Tinubu praised NITDA’s Director-General, Kashifu Abdullahi, and his team for their efforts in bridging the digital divide.
The center, located at Kwara State College of Education, is part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at accelerating economic diversification through industrialization and digitalization.
Senator Tinubu noted that ICT knowledge is a crucial tool for community empowerment, particularly for women, enabling them to overcome traditional barriers and access new opportunities. She highlighted NITDA’s efforts in establishing ICT centers across the country, mentioning that the Bauchi State facility was the first, with additional centers in Benue and Oyo nearing completion.
“This initiative expands digital access for our citizens, equipping communities with essential ICT resources,” she stated. She also revealed that Digital Economy Centres in five states—Jigawa, Ebonyi, Cross River, Oyo, Niger—and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have been fully equipped with computers and other ICT materials, with 10 more centers in various states set to be completed soon.
Mrs. Tinubu expressed satisfaction with the positive impact of these centers, noting that they provide valuable opportunities for youth, especially women and girls, to enhance their education, achieve self-reliance, participate in the global economy, and support their families. She encouraged the community to take full ownership of the center to maximize its benefits.
As part of the RHI Economic Empowerment initiative, the First Lady presented a ₦50 million grant to the Kwara State First Lady, Olufolake AbdulRazaq, and the RHI State Coordinator for distribution to 1,000 women petty traders, each receiving ₦50,000 to boost their businesses.
In his remarks, NITDA’s Director-General, Kashifu Abdullahi, emphasized that the center is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities for advanced learning. Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and his wife expressed gratitude to Senator Tinubu and NITDA, acknowledging RHI’s continued efforts in complementing government initiatives to improve Nigerians’ live.
