The First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu has commissioned the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) Community ICT Centre, in collaboration with the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Renewed Hope Initiative is Mrs Tinubu’s project introduced to transform lives across the country through various programmes in health, education, agriculture, social investment, and economic empowerment.
During the commissioning of the ICT centre at the Kwara State College of Education on Tuesday, the first lady congratulated the Director-General (DG) of NITDA, Malam Kashifu Abdullahi and his team for working closely with RHI to bridge the digital gap nationwide.
She said the construction and equipment provided at the were in furtherance of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to accelerate economic diversification through industrialisation and digitalisation.
She added that the knowledge of ICT serves as a vital tool for empowering communities, especially women, enabling them to break traditional barriers and access new opportunities.
“In this collaboration with NITDA, on March 12, 2024, we commissioned the first-ever ICT community centre constructed by NITDA, named the Zainab Bulkachuwa Community ICT Centre in Bauchi State.
“NITDA has constructed four Community ICT Centres so far.
“The centre we are commissioning today is the second, while Benue and Oyo centres are ready to be commissioned soon.
“Therefore, today’s commissioning presents us with another opportunity under the mandate of the Ministry of Communication, Innovation, and Digital Economy to further expand digital access for our citizens, by providing communities with the resources they require to develop ICT skills.
According to Mrs Tinubu, Digital Economy Centres in five states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have also been fully equipped with computers and other ICT materials.
The five states include Jigawa, Ebonyi, Cross River, Oyo, Niger, and the FCT
She said 10 additional centres in Abia, Edo, Delta, Ondo, Kano, Katsina, Lagos, Nasarawa, Yobe, and Zamfara are being fully equipped and will be ready for commissioning soon.
“I have been informed that these Centres have greatly benefited our youth, especially women and girls, by providing invaluable opportunities for growth and empowerment.
“I am glad to hear about the success stories and the opportunities these centres are offering members of these various communities that have benefitted from this intervention.
“By equipping themselves with ICT skills, women and girls can enhance their educational prospects, be self-reliant, participate in the global economy, and support their families.
“I urge the community members to take full ownership of this centre.
“The success of this centre depends on their active participation and utilisation of the resources available,” she added.
The first lady, under the RHI Economic Empowerment scope, presented a grant of 50 million naira to Dr Olufolake Abdulrazaq, the Wife of the Governor of Kwara State, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq.
Mrs Abdulrazaq is also the State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative.
The money, according to Mrs Tinubu is to support another set of 1,000 women petty traders with the sum of 50,000 naira each to enable them to recapitalise their existing businesses in addition to the earlier empowerment of 1,000 women in the state in 2024.
NAN recall that under the RHI Social Investment Programme, 250 elderly citizens were given a grant of 200,000 naira each in December 2024 to enable them to celebrate Christmas.
In addition, RHI, under its Education Programme is working closely with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) to build an Alternative High School for Girls in Kwara State.
Responding, the director general of NITDA said the centre was equipped with state-of-the-art facilities for robust learning.
Gov. Abdulrazaq of Kwara state and his wife praised Mrs Tinubu and NITDA for providing the centre.
He urged stakeholders in a better Nigeria to do more for the society saying, “It is important to invest in the future of the youth.
“This project is not just an investment in infrastructure; it makes a powerful statement about the essential role of technology in our survival and progress in this era.”
He expressed gratitude to the Federal Government and the RHI for contributing to innovation in the state.
The centre is named Amina Ndalolo Community ICT Centre. (NAN)
