First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has expanded the Renewed Hope Initiative ICT empowerment programme to all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, targeting women with digital skills that can boost entrepreneurship and economic growth. Adedayo Benjamin-Laniyi, mandate secretary for Women Affairs and FCT Coordinator of RHI, told journalists in Abuja on Sunday that the goal is to equip women with technology skills and business tools that support sustainable livelihoods and digital entrepreneurship.
She explained that the nine-day ICT training, organised in collaboration with the National Information Technology Development Agency, began on November 11 and will end on November 19. She said forty women from each state and the FCT were selected, noting that “each beneficiary receives a laptop, which is intended solely as a business tool for empowerment.” She added that the initiative is being implemented across the six geopolitical zones to ensure fair participation nationwide.
Benjamin-Laniyi said the training helps women turn their laptops into functional business centres. She explained that the classroom sessions covered ICT skills as well as networking, mentorship, financial literacy, and collaboration, which she described as important for community development. “Your laptop is more than a tool; it empowers you and others,” she said, stressing that the programme encourages women to support one another through shared learning.
She highlighted that the initiative is inclusive and open to indigent and non-indigent women, helping them expand their skills and participate in the digital economy. She added that beneficiaries are encouraged to mentor others to grow more small businesses and empower young people.
Benjamin-Laniyi also noted that the programme aligns with the First Lady’s wider advocacy in health, education, agriculture, and women empowerment. She said the ICT scheme would continue to grow with more advanced digital courses and entrepreneurship modules. “Our goal is to create a digitally empowered generation of women who can compete locally and globally,” she said.
Some participants praised the programme for improving their income opportunities. Hauwa Musa, a sachet water seller from Abaji, said the training strengthened her business skills. “We learned how to use laptops, brand products, network, communicate with customers, and expand our businesses,” she said. Another beneficiary said the programme helped her run her tailoring work online and reach more customers.
