First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has urged beneficiaries of the 2025 Women ICT Training and Empowerment Programme to use their newly acquired digital skills to improve their futures and support other women and girls across Nigeria. She made the call on Thursday during the closing ceremony of the programme, jointly organised by the National Information Technology Development Agency and the Renewed Hope Initiative at the State House Banquet Hall in Abuja.
She told the participants that they now carry an important responsibility within their communities. She said, “I encourage you to apply the skills you have learned, pursue continuous growth, and mentor other women and girls to embrace opportunities in the digital space.” The First Lady described the women as ambassadors of digital literacy and said their creativity and determination show how far the initiative has expanded in a short time.
Senator Tinubu said she is confident that the knowledge gained will inspire innovation, entrepreneurship, and long-term empowerment across different communities. She noted that the programme has grown steadily since it first began with a small group of women in 2023. According to her, the 2024 edition recorded major progress, with 252 young women selected from every geopolitical zone and the Federal Capital Territory who completed intensive ICT training and later emerged as Digital Literacy Champions.
She explained that the 2025 edition built on these achievements with a wider reach across Bauchi, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Imo, Edo, and Ondo States, as well as the FCT. A total of 320 beneficiaries participated, including 40 women from each selected state, 40 from the FCT, and an additional 40 stakeholders, all equipped with essential digital skills designed to improve their socio-economic prospects and expand opportunities.
The First Lady said the partnership between NITDA and the Renewed Hope Initiative falls under the Economic Empowerment scope of RHI. She added that the effort aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which aims to speed up economic diversification through digitalisation and industrialisation. She said, “By providing ICT training to women across all regions of Nigeria, we are laying solid foundations for a digital future where more women and girls can thrive, innovate, and lead.”
She thanked the NITDA Director-General, Mallam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, and his team for supporting the initiative. She also expressed appreciation to state First Ladies and RHI coordinators for their commitment. She praised the facilitators and trainers whose contributions, she said, have opened doors for women throughout the country and expanded access to digital knowledge.
Speaking earlier, the NITDA Director-General commended the First Lady for her leadership and strong support for digital empowerment programmes tailored for women. Abdullahi said the scheme aligns with President Tinubu’s national goals of economic diversification, inclusivity, and the development of human capital. He stressed that Nigeria is working toward a 70 per cent digital literacy rate by 2027.
He explained that NITDA is collaborating with the Ministry of Education to integrate digital literacy into the national curriculum for all education levels. Several universities, he added, have already adopted digital literacy as a compulsory general studies requirement. According to him, this approach ensures that the digital economy becomes accessible to future generations and opens new opportunities for young people.
Abdullahi said the women trained in the programme have gained foundational digital skills covering device use, software tools, data literacy, content creation, digital marketing, online safety, problem-solving, and knowledge of the gig economy. He told the beneficiaries, “You can live in Aba and work remotely for clients in Lagos, Abuja, or even outside Nigeria. The future is the gig economy, and knowledge gives you power.”
He revealed that between 2023 and 2024, NITDA trained more than 1.1 million Nigerians in different digital skill areas. Under the women-focused partnership alone, 607 women have benefited so far. In 2025, he said 510,000 Nigerians, including 10,000 teachers and 32,000 civil servants, have already completed digital training programmes that aim to improve productivity and national competitiveness.
According to the DG, prioritising women is essential for real impact. He said, “To truly touch lives, we must prioritise women. When we empower women, we empower families and strengthen communities. Strong communities lead to a more inclusive and prosperous nation.” He praised the participants for their dedication and encouraged them to apply what they have learned.
The event drew attendance from wives of senior government officials, including the wife of the Deputy Senate President, the wife of the Chief of Staff to the President, several state First Ladies, wives of ministers, and wives of service chiefs such as the Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, Chief of Air Staff, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Director-General of the DSS.
