Nigeria’s First Lady and National Chairperson of the ‘Renewed Hope Initiative,’ Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has inaugurated an ICT centre and some educational facilities in Bauchi State.
The First Lady who was in Bauchi State last Tuesday during an official visit inaugurated a community ICT Center constructed by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and an Alternative High School for Girls supported by the Universal Basic Education Commission.
Speaking during the inauguration, the First Lady expressed her commitment to ensuring that women and girls have better access to education coupled with ICT facilities to improve their digital skills.
Mrs Tinubu urged the targeted beneficiaries to take full advantage of the projects, assuring them of her commitment to establishing more ICT centres across the country under her “Renewed Hope Initiative”.
She stressed the importance of information and communication technology in human development in the 21st century, emphasising that ICT is critical to improving the health and education of people.
She added that “meaningful development can not be achieved under the current dispensation without a well-established ICT system, which is pivotal in driving every aspect of life.
“As such, women must seize all the opportunities available in the ICT world to develop themselves and become relevant in the scheme of things”, she added.
She stressed further that, “ICT development and improvement remain one of the priorities and focal points of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration, and everything possible will be done to make the sector thrive and become one of the main revenue generators for the country”.
On his part, the Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir, hailed the first lady for including Bauchi among the states benefiting from her laudable initiative.
He noted that “this gesture would go a long way in complementing the efforts of my administration”.
Abdulkadir added, “Our state is ready to partner with NITDA and the Federal Government to provide more empowerment opportunities for women, children, and vulnerable groups in society”.
Also speaking at the commissioning event, the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, reminded that the agency is committed to contributing to the country’s development by ensuring that every Nigerian is digitally educated.
He added that NITDA has designed a process whereby women are fully integrated into the ICT revolution in the country, maintaining that for any programme to succeed, women must be actively involved.
The NITDA boss pointed out that “eight pillars have been developed, which will be carefully implemented to ensure that not less than 40 per cent of the women population in the country are fully introduced to all aspects of ICT.
The community ICT centre, which is located on Yandoka Road, is named after the former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Adamu Bulkachuwa.
Meanwhile, at the commissioning of the Alternative High School for Girls, Mrs Tinubu said the ceremony marked a significant step towards empowering young girls through education in the region.
Again, she emphasised the importance of education for girls and urged them to seize the opportunities provided by the newly inaugurated school.
Senator Oluremi Tinubu expressed her gratitude to the governor for spearheading this initiative.
While speaking at the occasion, the Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission, Dr. Hamid Bobboyi commended the collaborative efforts that led to the establishment of the school.
He noted that the positive outcomes of these efforts are already visible and expressed optimism about further advancements in Bauchi’s education sector in the coming months and years.
