Photo caption:
From left: DG, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi; Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani; First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu; Beneficiary RHI Empowerment, joy Eguasa; National Coordinator RHI, Prof. Hafsat Ganduje and National Secretary RHI, Barr. Chioma Uzordima, at the closing ceremony of Women ICT Training Empowerment Programme, State House, Abuja.
By Charles Okonji
In furtherance of efforts geared towards women and youths empowerment, the Renewed Hope Initiative of the First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, has graduated the first set of beneficiaries of its Women ICT Training and Empowerment Programme.
Over 35 graduates which were drawn from across FCT were empowered as they received graduation certificates.
Addressing the graduates, the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, congratulated the participants, commending the Director-General and his team of facilitators for a successful training.
She emphasized the importance of digital literacy and its role in fostering economic independence, noting that these skills are indispensable tools for driving growth and innovation.
According to her, “The importance of digital literacy and its role in fostering economic independence cannot be overemphasized. In a world driven by technology, these skills empower women to take control of their lives, contribute to their communities and seize opportunities.
“As we celebrate the successful conclusion of this programme, I extend my congratulations to all participants. You have exhibited resilience, determination and a hunger for knowledge that will undoubtedly set you on a path of success”.
On his part, Director-General, NITDA, Kashifu Abdullahi, commended the First Lady for the opportunity given to work with the RHI.
Abdullahi said: “Thank you for protecting all the vulnerable Nigerians. We are blessed to have you as the First Lady and mother of our nation. The participants, your daughters are graduating today taking home five major things. They are all equipped with digital literacy and ICT proficiency. They are going home empowered to safely and responsibly use digital platforms. They also mastered digital marketing – on how to be able to use social media to sell products and services. They are also enlightened on how to be part of gig economy. They learnt skills on how to work remotely and earn money. They also learnt how to use productivity tools, and lastly they were empowered on how to network. They are going back home with a laptop and ₦100, 000.00 each.”
“Senator Tinubu has agreed with us to work and collaborate with Renewed Hope Initiative to craft a national digital gender inclusion strategy in order to bring you at parity with the men to benefit from digital economy.”
Also speaking, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, promised to work with the Initiative in ensuring that the training is extended to millions of women across the country.
He noted that the programme was in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for women inclusion and empowerment among others.
“I want to extend my appreciation to the visionary of this initiative, our First Lady. Your unwavering commitment to empowerment and progress has charted the course for change for all the members of this cohort. This is a programme that we hope we can partner with you to actually scale significantly.
“I’m a big believer in the fact that we have to empower women because there is something that works really well for me, women are empathetic and when you have women around you, it is about the good for people not egos, this is why the role you are playing in the society is very important.
“I must also acknowledge the DG of NITDA and his team for their role in bringing this programme to fruition.
“Women empowerment is fundamental for the development and growth of every society, there is actually no any individual that was not raised by a woman. By empowering women, we unlock the unique creativity and innovation that can enrich every aspect of our lives. It is well documented that when we provide equal access to education resources and opportunities, that it becomes architect of positive change, changing the trajectory of economic progress, social harmony and sustainable development.
“This programme represents a critical step in this direction; it also aligned with two priority areas of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the first one being the investment in the digital economy to empower Nigerians with new skills and also sustain jobs, secondly to driving women empowerment to champion equity and parity across every facet of our lives.”
The power of digital tools and connectivity through the training also shattered the boundaries of what the participants thought it was impossible according to what representatives of the participants said.
On behalf of other participants, Miss Nkiru Ogbuli, a graphic designer expressed gratitude to the First Lady for keeping her promise of empowering women and explained that the program has expanded her knowledge and provided her with opportunities she wouldn’t have known existed.
Another beneficiary, Promise Ogbuehia, a makeup artist says the training is not only beneficial for her but also the people she would subsequently teach in order to impact them with knowledge she has gathered.
The First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu alongside the Minister then handed certificates, brand new laptops and ₦100,000 intervention grant to each of the graduates.
