As part of ongoing efforts to bridge the digital divide and empower women and girls through technology, Nigeria’s First Lady and National Chairperson of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has inaugurated multiple ICT facilities across several states.
The initiative, executed in collaboration with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and supported by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), aims to provide accessible digital learning centers, fostering inclusivity in the nation’s tech space.
Commitment to Digital Inclusion
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony in Bauchi State, the First Lady reaffirmed her dedication to ensuring that women and girls have greater access to ICT resources. She urged beneficiaries to maximize the opportunities provided, emphasizing that digital literacy is essential for economic and personal advancement.
Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, commended the initiative, noting that the newly established ICT center would complement his administration’s efforts in education and digital transformation.
In Ebonyi State, during the handover of the Digital Economy Center at the State Secretariat, Senator Tinubu, represented by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs and Strategy, Alhaji Wahab Alawiye-King, explained that the project falls under NITDA’s National Digital Gender Inclusion Strategy. She highlighted that other beneficiaries include Oyo, Cross River, Bauchi, Niger, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with plans underway to equip more centers nationwide.
Expanding ICT Infrastructure Nationwide
In Dutse, Jigawa State, the First Lady inaugurated the North-West Women ICT Center, a facility dedicated to training and capacity-building for digital transformation. Represented by the wife of the Vice President, Mrs. Nana Kashim Shettima, she underscored the center’s role in equipping women with essential technological skills.
Expressing gratitude, the wife of the Jigawa State Governor, Hajiya Hadiza Namadi, described the facility’s handover as a milestone achievement in fostering digital empowerment and advancing gender inclusivity in Nigeria.
Similarly, in the Federal Capital Territory, the Director General of the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development, Asabe Vilita Bashir, assured that the ICT equipment provided would be optimally utilized to benefit women in the region.
A representative of NITDA, Haruna Bashir, confirmed that the project spans seven locations nationwide, reaffirming the government’s commitment to preparing women for the digital era.
With the establishment of these ICT centers, the Renewed Hope Initiative continues to drive technological empowerment, ensuring that Nigerian women and girls are equipped with the skills needed to thrive in an increasingly digital world.
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