Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has honoured 252 women who completed an intensive ICT training programme designed to bridge the digital gender gap in Nigeria.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the Women ICT Training and Empowerment Programme, a collaboration between the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the First Lady emphasised the importance of digital skills in today’s technology-driven world, describing them as “key to attaining success in all spheres of life.”
“If we bridge the gender gap, we will empower women and can increase our GDP by 20%.” He reaffirmed NITDA’s aim to achieve 95% digital literacy by 2030 through its “Digital Literacy for All” initiative, which targets 30 million Nigerians, especially women, in collaboration with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). “These young graduates will serve as digital literacy champions in their communities,” he added.
Tinubu highlighted the transformative power of digital literacy, noting its potential to empower women and advance community development. “These skills are indispensable tools for driving growth and innovation. In a world driven by technology, these skills empower women to take control of their lives, contribute to their communities, and seize opportunities,” she stated.
She commended the 252 women for their resilience and commitment to learning, adding, “You have exhibited a hunger for knowledge that will undoubtedly set you on a path to success.”
Expressing appreciation for NITDA’s role in the initiative, Tinubu thanked its Director General, Mallam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, for his dedication to closing Nigeria’s digital divide. “I thank the Director General of NITDA, Mallam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, for his passion and steadfast commitment to bridging Nigeria’s digital divide. This collaboration aims to leverage technology to advance gender equity and national development,” she said.
Abdullahi, in his remarks, stressed the critical role of digital literacy in economic growth and noted President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to economic diversification. “If we bridge the gender gap, we will empower women and can increase our GDP by 20%.” He reaffirmed NITDA’s aim to achieve 95% digital literacy by 2030 through its “Digital Literacy for All” initiative, which targets 30 million Nigerians, especially women, in collaboration with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). “These young graduates will serve as digital literacy champions in their communities,” he added.
The initiative, Abdullahi explained, includes a partnership with the Minister of Education to incorporate digital skills into the school curriculum by next year. “By next year, we will embed digital skills and literacy as part of our formal education,” he said, adding that each year NITDA aims to produce 80 digital literacy champions from each of the six NYSC streams, totaling 17,760 annually.
“If you empower a man, you empower an individual; if you empower a woman, you empower a society. Mommy (First Lady) doesn’t want you women and girls to be left behind,” Abdullahi concluded, expressing gratitude for the RHI partnership in support of women’s digital empowerment.
He noted that participants in the programme gained essential skills in software operations, data management, and digital content creation, equipping them to lead digital change in their communities
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