News Highlights:
- Project aims to bridge the digital divide and empower communities, particularly women and youths.
- First Lady revealed that four ICT centres have been constructed under the initiative, with more set to be launched.
Nigeria’s First Lady and Chairperson of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has inaugurated a new ICT Community Centre at the Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin, reports Digital TimesNG.
The project, built by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in collaboration with RHI, aims to bridge the digital divide and empower communities, particularly women and youths.
At the event, the First Lady commended NITDA’s efforts, highlighting that this is the second of four centres under the initiative, with more set for commissioning in Benue and Oyo states.
She also noted that additional Digital Economy Centres have been equipped in several states to enhance ICT access and skills development.
“So far, NITDA has constructed four Community ICT Centres in collaboration with RHI for its social investment purposes. This centre we are commissioning today is the second, while Benue and Oyo centres are ready to be commissioned soon.”
“Other Digital Economy Centres have also been fully equipped with computers and other ICT materials in five states namely Jigawa, Ebonyi, Cross Rivers, Niger and the Federal Capital Territory,” Senator Tinubu said.
She disclosed that additional 10 Digital Economy Centres in Abia, Edo, Delta, Ondo, Kano, Katsina, Lagos, Nasarawa, Yobe and Zamfara states are also fully equipped with computers and ICT materials and will be ready for commissioning soon.
While acknowledging that the knowledge of ICT serves as a vital tool for empowering communities especially women which enable them to break traditional barriers and new opportunities, Senator Tinubu declared that she has been informed that these centres are greatly benefiting youths, especially women and girls by providing invaluable opportunities for growth and empowerment.
“I am glad to hear about the success stories and opportunities these centres are affording members of these various communities that have benefited from these interventions. 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,” she added.
She urged the community members to take full ownership of these centres adding that the success of these centres depend on their active participation and utilisation of the resources available.
The Kwara State Governor, Malam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the First Lady and the NITDA’s management for what he described as “impactful initiative.”
“Technology is here to stay and the only path forward is to aggressively invest in the skills and infrastructure that will secure a prosperous future for our people.
“As we commissioned this ICT Community Centre today, I extend our heartfelt appreciation to Her Excellence and the RHI for this remarkable investment in our communities and youths.”
NITDA’s Director General, Kashifu Inuwa, had in his welcome remarks, said the project further attests to the president’s commitment to harnessing the potential of digital innovation to drive national prosperity and inclusivity.
Describing the project as a pivotal step towards strengthening the digital economy and enhancing citizens’ digital fluency and proficiency, he said the centre is designed and equipped with state-of-the-art facilities to deliver smart, interactive and personalised learning experience to the citizens.
“We know knowledge is a foundation upon which countries build robust and sustainable economy, this aligns with President Tinubu’s commitment to elevating Nigeria to a premier status of the global digital economy and by harnessing the potential of digital innovation to drive national prosperity and inclusivity,” he said.
The NITDA boss noted that the centre is in line with the president’s wife initiative of empowering women, the vulnerable groups and the students with knowledge they need to thrive in life, adding, “We thank you mummy for this partnership with NITDA to implement this initiative.
“This is one of our initiatives designed as the ‘Digital Literacy for All’ because we know Nigeria’s greatest resource is not the mineral underneath us but it is our human capital. And this is the only way we can deliver a sustained inclusive growth as a nation.”
He noted that the initiative is designed in three buckets. “We have worked with the Ministry of Education, we developed curriculum for primary and secondary schools, we are training the teachers this year and by next session, digital skills will be embedded in Nigerian formal educational sector.
The centre is equipped with 48 computer sets, e-learning facilities, alternative power source, internet facility and other essential ICT components.
The event was graced by the Imo State Governor, Chief Hope Uzodinma, the wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Nana Shettima, Wife of the Senate President, Wife of the Speaker of the House of Representative, Wife of the National Security Adviser, some state governors’ wives and other top government functionaries.
