Recently, I came across a news story on TechDigest about the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, laying the foundation for a $10.4 million Renewed Hope Startup Hub in Abuja. I could not help but marvel at the development and, at the same time, feel excited about what the future holds for Nigeria’s technology sector. I was particularly impressed because, at a time when public attention is increasingly shifting towards the upcoming elections, with political activities taking centre stage, the First Lady remains actively involved in initiatives aimed at advancing technology, empowering young people and supporting national development.

What makes this development even more interesting is that it is not an isolated project. Rather, it reflects a growing commitment by the First Lady to digital inclusion, technology-driven empowerment and the creation of opportunities for Nigerians, particularly women, girls and young people. Her consistent presence at technology-related programmes involving the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) also raises an important question: What does this growing interest mean for Nigeria’s digital future?

For those who have followed her activities, the answer is becoming increasingly clear.

Through her Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), Senator Oluremi Tinubu has established a strong partnership with NITDA, creating opportunities for technology to reach communities and groups that have traditionally been underserved.

One of the most remarkable aspects of this partnership is the establishment of community Information and Communication Technology centres. These facilities are not merely buildings equipped with computers. They represent a deliberate effort to bring digital opportunities closer to people who might otherwise struggle to access them.

The partnership began with the inauguration of a community ICT centre in Bauchi on March 12, 2024. Named after Zainab Bulkachuwa, the first female President of the Court of Appeal, the centre set the tone for subsequent initiatives.

This was followed by the Amina Ndalolo Community ICT Centre in Ilorin, Kwara State, in January 2025, alongside a ₦50 million grant announced for women entrepreneurs. In April 2025, another centre was inaugurated in Ibadan, Oyo State, and named after former Trade Minister Onikepo Akande.

The partnership continued to expand, reaching Ihugh, Vandeikya, Benue State, by June 2026, where the fourth community ICT centre was inaugurated and named after Mrs Lucy Zaiyol Aluor. The centre further demonstrated the commitment to making digital learning accessible beyond major cities.

Beyond these community-based facilities, the ambition extends to a broader network of digital learning centres. On October 23, 2025, the First Lady inaugurated ten such centres virtually, covering Abia, Delta, Edo, Kano, Katsina, Lagos, Nasarawa, Ondo, Yobe and Zamfara states. The geographical spread of these facilities reflects an understanding that digital development must not be concentrated in a few urban centres.

The partnership has also extended into higher education, where the focus is on preparing students for the demands of an increasingly digital economy. Through the collaboration involving the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), ICT Experience Centres are being established across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, with each centre costing approximately ₦1 billion.

The centre at Ekiti State University, commissioned in May 2026, features artificial intelligence tools designed to support students. Similar facilities have been established at the University of Cross River State and Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State, while Kwara State University, Malete, has also benefited from the initiative.

These centres are expected to support training in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, robotics, software development and other emerging technologies. In a country where young people are increasingly seeking opportunities in the global digital economy, such investments could make a significant difference.

However, providing infrastructure is only one part of the equation. The First Lady’s interest in technology is also reflected in her commitment to digital skills development. The Women ICT Training and Empowerment Programme, organised in collaboration with NITDA, expanded from an initial cohort of women in the Federal Capital Territory to beneficiaries across all 36 states and the FCT. By November 2025, more than 600 women had benefited from the programme.

Similarly, her partnership with Huawei has supported women entrepreneurs through training in cloud computing, artificial intelligence, 5G and digital transformation.

These initiatives are particularly important because access to technology alone does not guarantee empowerment. People must also possess the skills and confidence to use it productively.

This broader vision of technology-driven development is also evident in her activities in Jigawa State. Among the key projects inaugurated was the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Academy, a technology and data-focused institution established and championed by the Director General NITDA, Malam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi.

The academy reinforces the importance of equipping young people with digital skills and preparing them for opportunities in an increasingly data-driven economy. Also inaugurated was the Senator Oluremi Tinubu Clinic, a specialised healthcare facility built and equipped by FutureMap Foundation and eHealth Africa to address chronic kidney disease. Beyond these technology-driven interventions, the First Lady also announced a ₦100 million business recapitalisation grant for 2,000 women petty traders, with each beneficiary receiving ₦50,000. Together, these initiatives reflect a development approach that connects digital innovation with education, healthcare and economic empowerment.

Against this backdrop, the latest development, the Renewed Hope Startup Hub in Wuye, Abuja, brings these efforts into sharper focus. The $10.4 million project, funded through a Japanese government grant facilitated by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), is expected to provide hardware prototyping facilities, incubation, mentorship and international partnerships. NITDA is expected to oversee the hub upon completion.

Although the project is still at the foundation-laying stage, its potential is significant. It could provide a platform where Nigerian innovators move beyond ideas to develop, test and commercialise technology solutions.

For NITDA, these partnerships present an opportunity to translate its digital economy mandate into tangible outcomes. The agency’s responsibility goes beyond policy formulation. It must also ensure that technology infrastructure, digital literacy and innovation opportunities reach the people who need them most.

In this regard, the First Lady’s consistent participation in these initiatives is more than ceremonial. It signals the importance attached to technology as a tool for national development and provides institutional visibility for programmes that might otherwise receive limited public attention.

It is therefore unsurprising that Kashifu consistently portrays the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, as a mother figure and advocate for women and youth empowerment. In a recent public post, he affectionately declared, “Mummy, you’re truly the mother of our nation,” while commending her technology-driven initiatives under the Renewed Hope Initiative. He particularly acknowledged her contributions to digital inclusion, describing her leadership as instrumental in expanding opportunities for women and young people to participate in Nigeria’s digital economy, in line with the administration’s objectives of economic diversification and inclusive growth.

Of course, the real measure of success will not be the number of centres inaugurated or the value of investments announced. It will be whether these facilities remain functional, whether beneficiaries acquire practical skills, whether young innovators build viable businesses and whether women gain greater economic independence.

As Nigeria looks towards the future, one thing is becoming evident. Technology is no longer a peripheral issue in national development. It is central to education, economic empowerment, innovation and the country’s competitiveness.

With the First Lady’s sustained interest, supported by NITDA’s technical capacity and mandate, there is reason to be optimistic about what lies ahead.

The foundation has been laid. The real work, and the real opportunity, is in what Nigerians will build upon it.

Shuaib S. Agaka is a tech journalist and digital policy analyst based in Kano. He can be reached via sshuaib328@gmail.com

The post Oluremi Tinubu, NITDA and Nigeria’s Digital Future, By Shuaib S. Agaka appeared first on Tech Digest News.

Something unusual—and deeply encouraging—has happened in Nigeria’s development landscape.

FutureMap Foundation, a mission-driven organisation known for promoting technology, innovation, youth empowerment and digital inclusion, chose to invest in a dialysis centre not in Lagos, Abuja, Kano or another major urban capital, but in Hadejia, Jigawa State.

That decision is significant.

Development projects, particularly those involving advanced medical services, are too often concentrated in large cities where visibility is greater, infrastructure is stronger and access to influential stakeholders is easier. By locating a technology-enabled renal care facility in Hadejia, the Foundation has demonstrated that innovation should not be defined merely by sophistication. Its real value lies in its ability to solve urgent human problems, especially in communities that have historically received little attention.

The facility, named the Senator Oluremi Tinubu Clinic, was commissioned by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who visited Jigawa State for the occasion. She also inspected other innovation centres facilitated by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) under the leadership of its Director General, Malam Kashifu Inuwa.

Beyond the symbolism of the commissioning, however, lies a far more important story: the quiet but devastating burden of kidney disease across the Hadejia–Jama’are River Basin and neighbouring communities.

Kidney disease rarely dominates national headlines. It does not command the same urgency as epidemics, outbreaks or other highly visible public health emergencies. Yet every year, it quietly devastates hundreds of families.

The crisis continues to grow, not because treatment is entirely unavailable, but because access remains beyond the reach of too many patients.

Available survey findings indicate that more than 200 new cases of kidney disease are diagnosed annually across the region. Even more troubling is the fact that at least 85 per cent of these cases are identified only after the disease has progressed significantly.

Nearly three out of every four patients requiring dialysis reportedly arrive with Stage IV or Stage V kidney disease, when treatment becomes more complicated, more expensive and less effective. Almost half of those diagnosed eventually require dialysis simply to remain alive.

These figures should concern anyone interested in the future of healthcare in Northern Nigeria. They reveal not only the burden of kidney disease, but also the consequences of unequal access to specialist medical services.

For many patients, surviving chronic kidney disease is not simply a question of receiving treatment. It is a question of whether they can physically reach it.

Specialist renal services remain concentrated in a limited number of urban centres, forcing patients to travel hundreds of kilometres several times a week for dialysis. The financial and emotional consequences can be overwhelming.

Families exhaust their savings on transport, accommodation, medication and treatment. Breadwinners lose productive working days. Caregivers abandon their livelihoods to accompany sick relatives. Children miss school, while households already struggling with poverty are pushed further into financial distress.

For many families, the journey to dialysis becomes almost as punishing as the disease itself.

This is precisely why the Senator Oluremi Tinubu Clinic deserves national attention—not simply as another healthcare facility, but as a practical response to one of the region’s most pressing health challenges.

Designed and managed by FutureMap Foundation, the clinic represents an important shift in thinking. Instead of expecting patients to chase specialist care across distant cities, it brings life-saving treatment closer to the communities where it is most urgently needed.

It affirms a simple but important principle: access to quality healthcare should not depend on a patient’s postcode or ability to travel hundreds of kilometres in search of survival.

The impact is already becoming evident.

One patient receiving dialysis at the clinic travels from Maigatari in Jigawa State, covering approximately 200 kilometres on every round trip. Another comes from Jama’are Local Government Area of Bauchi State, travelling about 169 kilometres each time treatment is required.

Across the wider region, some patients routinely cover between 200 and 300 kilometres merely to access dialysis.

Reducing those journeys changes far more than the distance recorded on a map. It lowers transport costs, preserves household income, improves treatment adherence and allows patients to spend more time recovering with their families rather than enduring exhausting hours on the road.

Healthcare becomes more humane when it becomes more accessible.

Although the dialysis unit is still relatively new, patients have already accessed services from several states across Northern Nigeria. Behind every person treated is a family spared repeated hardship, another household protected from avoidable financial pressure and another reminder that decentralising specialist healthcare is both possible and necessary.

Yet the clinic now faces a challenge that has become all too familiar in Nigeria’s health sector: demand has quickly outgrown capacity.

The dialysis unit currently operates with only one machine. Each treatment session lasts approximately six hours and 55 minutes, meaning that the number of patients who can be treated daily remains severely limited.

The problem is no longer the absence of medical personnel or patients. The doctors are available. The need is evident. The constraint is infrastructure.

This is where a relatively targeted investment could produce extraordinary returns—not in financial profit, but in lives prolonged, families preserved and communities strengthened.

The addition of three or more dialysis machines would fundamentally transform the clinic’s capacity. Multiple machines operating simultaneously could more than triple the number of treatment sessions, reduce waiting periods and enable many more patients from Jigawa, Bauchi, Yobe and neighbouring states to receive life-saving care closer to home.

The benefits would extend well beyond the dialysis ward.

Greater capacity would reduce referrals to already overstretched tertiary hospitals, lower household healthcare expenditure, minimise productivity losses caused by repeated long-distance travel and improve the chances of patients receiving timely treatment before complications become irreversible.

Expanding dialysis capacity would therefore strengthen both individual health outcomes and the wider regional healthcare system.

The clinic also reflects the broader philosophy of FutureMap Foundation: that innovation must respond to society’s most urgent challenges wherever they exist.

Although the organisation is widely associated with talent development, startup support, entrepreneurship, digital inclusion and technology ecosystems, it has applied the same problem-solving approach to healthcare. The clinic combines specialist renal care with technology-enabled services, community outreach, preventive health programmes and strategic partnerships.

Its ambition extends beyond operating a dialysis unit.

The longer-term vision is to establish a regional centre that integrates dialysis, early kidney disease screening, specialist consultations, digital health solutions, community education, preventive care and workforce development within one coordinated system.

This is precisely the type of integrated healthcare model that many underserved communities urgently require.

Achieving that vision, however, cannot remain the responsibility of one foundation.

Improving access to dialysis requires genuine collaboration among federal and state governments, philanthropists, corporate organisations, development partners, charitable foundations, healthcare institutions and private citizens willing to invest in life-saving interventions.

There are many practical ways to support the project. These include donating dialysis machines, providing consumables, establishing patient-support programmes, funding biomedical equipment maintenance and supporting awareness campaigns and early screening initiatives.

These are not ordinary donations. They are investments in health equity.

Every additional dialysis machine creates new treatment capacity. That capacity enables another patient to begin treatment on time. Another family is spared a 300-kilometre journey. Another household avoids catastrophic medical expenses. Another life receives a stronger chance of survival.

Healthcare is often discussed in the language of statistics, budgets and infrastructure. Yet behind every number is a human story.

There is a father hoping to return to work, a mother determined to watch her children grow, a young person refusing to surrender to illness and a family praying that specialist care will not remain too distant or too expensive.

Expanding the dialysis capacity of the Senator Oluremi Tinubu Clinic is therefore about far more than acquiring additional equipment.

It is about expanding access, restoring dignity and giving more patients the opportunity to live.

Few investments offer a return more meaningful than that.

What FutureMap Foundation has begun in Hadejia should therefore be seen as more than a local intervention. It is a model of what can happen when innovation moves beyond elite spaces and urban centres to confront the realities of underserved communities.

The opportunity before us is not merely to build a larger dialysis centre. It is to establish a sustainable, technology-enabled and equitable model of renal care that can be replicated across Northern Nigeria and beyond.

That would be innovation in its most humane and transformative form.

Shuaib S. Agaka is a technology journalist and digital policy analyst based in Kano.

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The commissioning of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Future Academy and the Senator Oluremi Tinubu Clinic in Hadejia has been hailed as a landmark demonstration of how strategic partnerships, evidence-based planning and innovation can drive sustainable human capital development in Northern Nigeria.

The twin facilities, inaugurated by the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, attracted an array of dignitaries, including the governors of the seven North-West states, senior federal and state government officials, traditional rulers, development partners, academics, healthcare professionals and leaders of Nigeria’s technology ecosystem.

The projects were developed by FutureMap Foundation, which said the initiative reflects its belief that lasting development is achieved not merely through infrastructure but through collaboration, shared vision and long-term investment in people.

According to the Foundation, the Academy and the Clinic were conceived after extensive community consultations, stakeholder engagements and scientific needs assessments designed to ensure that the interventions addressed the actual priorities of the people of Hadejia and surrounding communities.

Findings from the Foundation’s survey revealed that 89.8 per cent of young respondents believed an innovation hub would help tackle social, educational and economic challenges, while 75 per cent had never participated in any digital or technology training programme.

The study also found that 36.5 per cent of unemployed youths had been searching for jobs for more than three years, underscoring the urgent need for skills development, entrepreneurship and innovation-driven economic opportunities.

The findings informed the design of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Future Academy, a multidisciplinary innovation centre dedicated to Agritech, HealthTech, EdTech, Artificial Intelligence, digital literacy, research, entrepreneurship and leadership development.

The facility houses a state-of-the-art Fabrication and Prototyping Laboratory, Innovation Hub, Research and Development Centre, digital learning facilities and collaborative workspaces, providing young innovators with the tools needed to develop practical solutions to real-life challenges.

Complementing the Academy is the Senator Oluremi Tinubu Clinic, established to confront the growing burden of kidney disease and other health challenges in the region.

A hospital-based assessment conducted by the Foundation revealed that more than 200 new kidney disease cases are diagnosed annually in the area, with 86 patients currently receiving dialysis.

The assessment further showed that nearly three-quarters of dialysis patients present with advanced Stage Four or Stage Five kidney disease, while many travel between 200 and 300 kilometres, often waiting between two and six hours to receive treatment.

The Foundation said these findings informed the design of a healthcare model centred on prevention, early diagnosis, specialist referrals and technology-enabled healthcare, rather than focusing solely on treatment.

One of the unique features of the initiative is the integration of healthcare with innovation.

Research undertaken within the Academy’s Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Centre and Fabrication Laboratory will support the development of indigenous technologies for disease diagnosis, patient monitoring and improved healthcare delivery.

The Foundation explained that this integrated approach creates an ecosystem where education, research, innovation, entrepreneurship and healthcare reinforce one another to improve lives and strengthen communities.

To realise the vision, FutureMap Foundation has built strategic partnerships with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the Federal Ministry of Education, the Directorate of Research, Innovation and Partnerships (DRIP) at Bayero University Kano, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), EHA Clinics, the Innovation Support Network (ISN), Google Developer Groups (GDG), the Hadejia Emirate Council, and several other public and private sector organisations.

According to the Foundation, these collaborations are designed to expand digital literacy, strengthen healthcare innovation, promote research and entrepreneurship, and create sustainable opportunities for young Nigerians.

The commissioning of the Academy and Clinic is widely regarded as introducing a new development model that combines evidence-based planning, strategic partnerships and long-term investment in human capital.

While the clinic addresses today’s healthcare challenges through preventive medicine, technology and quality patient care, the Academy is expected to prepare the next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs and technology leaders with future-ready skills capable of driving sustainable socioeconomic development.

FutureMap Foundation expressed confidence that the Hadejia initiative would serve as a replicable model for communities across Nigeria and beyond, demonstrating that transformative development is best achieved when governments, academic institutions, healthcare providers, technology organisations, traditional institutions and development partners work together towards a common goal.

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Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has commissioned two landmark digital innovation and healthcare facilities in Hadejia, Jigawa State, describing them as strategic investments that will accelerate technological advancement, improve healthcare delivery and empower young Nigerians with future-ready skills.

The projects, Bola Ahmed Tinubu  Academy and Senator Oluremi Tinubu Clinic, were inaugurated in Hadejia Local Government Area as part of broader efforts to promote innovation-driven development and expand access to quality healthcare in underserved communities.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, the First Lady said the facilities align with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which prioritises healthcare, digital transformation, human capital development and inclusive socio-economic growth.

She noted that the integrated innovation and healthcare hub would bridge the gap between cutting-edge technology and medical services while creating opportunities for digital skills acquisition, research, entrepreneurship and improved health outcomes.

Mrs. Tinubu urged young Nigerians to maximise the opportunities provided by the Academy by acquiring digital and entrepreneurial skills capable of positioning them for leadership in the rapidly evolving global digital economy.

She also commended the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Malam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, for his visionary leadership and sustained efforts toward expanding digital inclusion, innovation and technology-driven development across the country.

PRNigeria gathered that the Senator Oluremi Tinubu Clinic was constructed and fully equipped by FutureMap Foundation in partnership with eHealth Africa in recognition of the First Lady’s commitment to improving healthcare services for vulnerable and underserved populations.

Scenes from the newly commissioned Bola Ahmed Tinubu Academy and Senator Oluremi Tinubu Clinic in Hadejia, Jigawa State

Meanwhile , the Bola Ahmed Tinubu  Academy, is a Federal Government initiative implemented by NITDA to nurture digital talent, promote research, strengthen innovation and support the growth of Nigeria’s knowledge-based economy.

The Academy boasts world-class facilities covering the entire innovation ecosystem, including a Fabrication Laboratory (FabLab), Innovation Laboratory, Health Wearables Research Unit, Advanced Prosthetics Centre, Pitch and Incubation Space, Atrium, Theatre and Auditorium, Computer-Based Test (CBT) Centre, Training Classrooms and Student Hostels.

Speaking during the ceremony, the Director-General of NITDA, Malam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, explained that the Academy and the Clinic were deliberately designed as complementary institutions where technological innovations can be translated into practical healthcare solutions.

According to him, the facilities will drive research and the development of indigenous digital technologies for the early detection, prevention and management of chronic kidney disease and other critical health challenges.

He described the Bola Ahmed Tinubu  Academy as a sustainability-driven innovation hub that will convert technical knowledge into commercially viable products capable of addressing societal challenges, creating employment opportunities and stimulating economic growth.

“Beyond developing digital skills, the Academy will nurture innovators and entrepreneurs whose ideas and solutions can improve lives, strengthen healthcare delivery and contribute significantly to Nigeria’s digital economy,” he said.

Inuwa further disclosed that the Senator Oluremi Tinubu Clinic would function not only as a modern primary healthcare facility but also as a deployment centre where health technologies developed by researchers and innovators at the Academy’s Fabrication Laboratory would be tested and deployed for public benefit.

He said the facility is equipped with a modern dialysis centre, fully fitted operating theatre, labour and maternity wards, integrated oxygen supply system and reliable power infrastructure to guarantee uninterrupted healthcare services.

The commissioning comes shortly after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved the establishment of the National Health Technology and Data Analytics Office (NHTDAO) to coordinate Nigeria’s digital health transformation agenda.

The President also constituted a high-level Steering Committee, with NITDA as one of the key implementing agencies, to provide strategic direction for the initiative.

Observers say the commissioning of the Hadejia innovation academy and healthcare centre represents another significant milestone in the Federal Government’s efforts to harness technology, research and innovation to improve healthcare delivery, deepen digital inclusion and accelerate sustainable national development.

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By Rukkayat Sadauki,

The Renewed Hope Initiative, in collaboration with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), on Friday held the closing ceremony of the 2025 Women ICT Training Empowerment Programme at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The event was hosted by the First Lady and National Chairman of the Initiative, Her Excellency Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON.

In her address, the First Lady congratulated the 2025 cohort and urged them to embrace the courage to start small, assuring them that consistency would eventually attract recognition. “One day, somebody will notice your efforts,” she said. Senator Tinubu announced that similar ICT training would soon be extended to wives of executives, encouraging beneficiaries from all geopolitical zones to apply their newly acquired skills toward building a digital future. She further urged them to pursue continuous growth and seize emerging opportunities within the digital economy.

The First Lady also commended the NITDA Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE, and his team for expanding digital empowerment opportunities for women across the country.

Earlier, Inuwa, in his welcome remarks, praised the First Lady’s unwavering support and noted that the programme aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in economic diversification, human capital development, and digital inclusivity. He reiterated NITDA’s commitment to fostering a digitally empowered nation, stressing that technology thrives on skilled people. He highlighted the National Digital Literacy Framework, which targets achieving 95% digital literacy by 2030, with a mid-term target of 70% by 2027.

The DG revealed that participants underwent three weeks of intensive training covering device and software use, content creation, digital marketing, online safety, and basic digital problem-solving. He noted the programme’s steady growth: 35 women trained in 2023, 252 in 2024, and 320 in 2025—bringing the total to over 600 women so far.

Inuwa added that under the current administration, NITDA has trained more than 1,000,143 Nigerians, including 32,000 civil servants, in various digital literacy and skills initiatives. He urged the graduates to return to their communities, apply their new knowledge, and mentor at least two to three other women to further expand digital capacity nationwide.

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The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), in partnership with the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), has officially commissioned a state-of-the-art IT Community Centre in Ibadan, Oyo State, as part of ongoing efforts to bridge the digital divide and empower youth and women across the state.

The centre, which was donated to Oladipo Alayande School of Science in Oke-Bola, Ibadan, Oyo State, was named in honour of Mrs. Onikepo Akande, a distinguished daughter of Oyo State, and is aimed at providing digital skills training, particularly for women and young people. It is expected to offer participants a competitive edge in the evolving global tech industry.

Her Excellency, the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu CON OON, delivered special remarks at the event, emphasising the centre’s role in achieving one of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s key priority areas which is to accelerate economic diversification through digitisation, industrialisation, innovation, and the creative arts.

She disclosed that the commissioning of the centre is a step forward in the collective mission to empower Nigerians, especially women and youth, with the skills needed to thrive in a digital economy.

“We are not stopping here. I am pleased to announce that ten more IT Centres will soon be commissioned across various states,” she added.

While noting that other digital economy centres have been fully equipped with computers and ICT materials in 5 other states, she urged members of the community to take full ownership of the centre.

She said, “The success of this centre depends on your active participation and utilisation of available resources.”

The Oyo State Governor, Engr. Oluseyi Makinde, who delivered a goodwill message during the event, praised NITDA and RHI for bringing the initiative to the state.

He highlighted the high standards of the facility and pledged the state government’s support to ensure its sustainability and maximum impact on the people of Oyo State.

“Information Technology, Artificial Intelligence, that is the road to the future, and I am glad that under the Renewed Hope Initiative, you’ve brought this to Oyo State, and I can give you the assurance that we will take full advantage of it,” he promised.

In his remark, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani stated that the centre will serve as an avenue for youths to acquire globally relevant digital skills, build startups and create solutions that can compete on the global stage.

While giving his welcome remarks earlier, the DG NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, described the collaboration with the Renewed Hope Initiative as a strategic intervention to boost Nigeria’s digital talent pool.

He explained that the Ibadan IT Community Centre is equipped with cutting-edge technologies designed to provide a smart and personalised learning experience and lauded Senator Tinubu for her leadership and passion for empowering underrepresented groups.

“Your Excellency’s vision and commitment have been instrumental in actualising this initiative. You are giving Nigerians the tools to unlock their potential in the digital economy,” he said.

Noting that the newly commissioned centre is part of a broader national agenda to enhance digital literacy, reduce unemployment, and foster innovation-driven development across the country, Inuwa disclosed that the agency has worked with the Ministry of Education to develop digital literacy and skills curriculum that will be infused as part of the formal education in schools.

While encouraging the school administrators and community leaders to ensure its accessibility and sustainability, the NITDA DG said, “The centre is open to all, and we want to see a cross-pollination between the school and the community.”

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By Lukman Oladokun 

As part of its contribution to the Renewed Hope Initiative’s (RHI) social investment programme, the Nigeria’s First Lady and Chairperson, RHI, Senator Oluremi Tinubu has commissioned another ICT Community Centre constructed by the National Information Technology Development Agency in collaboration with the RHI at the Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

Speaking at the fun-filled event organised for the commissioning, the wife of the President commended NITDA for its impactful efforts in bridging the digital divide across the country.

She said, ” 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.

According to her, 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.

The First Lady 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.”

He said, “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.”

In his welcome remarks, the NITDA’s Director General, Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE, 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 our 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, “To achieve this, our President directed us to enhance productivity in crucial sectors such as education, that is the reason we are here to commission this initiative. So the President is committed to that, and our mother, the First Lady, through her initiative is partnering with NITDA to deliver this centre to you in Kwara State.

The NITDA boss said 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. “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’s dignitaries.

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TECH DIGEST – The Nigerian Senate is presently legislating on reforms that will help to revive the ailing Nigerian Postal Service and make the country’s postal industry rise to the demands of existing realities, Chairman, Senate Committee on Communications, Senator Oluremi Tinubu has disclosed.

Giving her remark yesterday at the Public hearing of the Senate Committee on Communications on the Nigerian Postal Service Act and the Nationwide Toll-Free Emergency Number Bill 2021, Senator Tinubu, revealed that she has already sponsored a bill aimed at reforming the postal industry.

The bill among other things proposes an expansion of the current objectives of NIPOST, to cover the implementation of a National Postal Policy, which will encourage local and foreign investment in the postal industry.

The Bill will also protect the rights and interests of service providers in the sector, provision of postal services to areas and towns that were erstwhile, not sustainable, promoting small and medium enterprises in the sector, while engendering innovation, integration and inclusion in keeping up with current trends.

“The Global Postal Industry and indeed, every facet of human life has continued to evolve, thus requiring the Nigerian Postal Industry to rise to the demands of existing realities. As a result, there is a need to ensure that legislation for the Sector is reflective of the times we are in,” she said.

Also, the Bill provides for the unbundling of NIPOST by splitting the roles of the Nigerian Postal Service also referred to as the Public Postal Operator (PPO), whose responsibility shall be the provision of Universal Postal Services in Nigeria; and the Nigerian Postal Commission (NPC), another corporate body which shall have the sole responsibility of regulating and supervising the Postal Sector.

This Bill also makes provision for administration and planning of a National Postcode System, in line with global addressing standards, for efficient mail delivery, and seeks to establish a Universal Postal Service Fund (UPSF) to be applied for the deployment of subsidized Postal Services and infrastructure to the unserved and underserved areas.

Beyond serving the interest of our anti-trust and competition laws, the clear delineation of roles, I believe, will make NIPOST more commercially viable, while ensuring more efficient service delivery.

The Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) dates as far back as 1852, evolving from an exigency of the colonial administration to a Collection Office of the United Kingdom and eventually, to the NIPOST we have all come to know, boasting coverage of the entire Federation, and providing postal administration services to Nigeria.

As at 1st of October, 1960 when Nigeria gained independence from colonial rule, there existed one hundred and seventy-six (176) Post Offices, 10 Sub-Post Offices and 1000 Postal Agencies. Today, the agency has over nine hundred and fifty-five (955) Post Offices and more than three thousand (3,000) Postal Agencies in the thirty-six states of the Federation.

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