…announces N100m support for women traders

By Peter Duru, Makurdi

Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has described Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as a critical driver of economic growth and development, urging Nigerians to embrace digital innovation.

Senator Tinubu made the call on Tuesday during the commissioning and handover of the Community ICT Centre in Ihugh, Vandeikya Local Government Area of Benue State. The centre was built by the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) in collaboration with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

The First Lady disclosed that 15 states have so far benefited from the intervention, noting that “knowledge of ICT serves as a significant tool for empowering communities, especially women, enabling them to access new opportunities.”

She said the Ihugh facility was the fourth NITDA Community ICT Centre commissioned under the partnership in Benue State and the 15th nationwide, with similar centres already established in states including Abia, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Jigawa, Kwara and Ondo, as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

According to her, the centres have been fully equipped with computers and other ICT facilities provided by NITDA. She urged members of the host community to take ownership of the centre to ensure its sustainability.

Senator Tinubu commended the Director-General of NITDA, Inuwa Abdullahi, and his team for their “impactful efforts in bridging the digital divide across the country” through their collaboration with the Renewed Hope Initiative.

The First Lady also announced the disbursement of N50 million each to women in Makurdi and Ihugh under the Renewed Hope Initiative to support their petty trading and small-scale businesses.

She further named the ICT centre after renowned Benue educationist, Mrs Lucy Aluor.

Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, expressed appreciation to the Renewed Hope Initiative and NITDA for establishing ICT centres in Ihugh and other parts of the state.

He described the facility as a transformational gateway that would enhance digital learning, online work, research and access to resources, while creating opportunities for local tech jobs.

“It will promote entrepreneurship, e-marketing and incubation support for small-scale enterprises,” the governor said.

The Tor Tiv, Prof. James Ayatse, described the project as a landmark initiative aimed at promoting digital inclusion and empowering women and youths.

He also appealed to the Federal Government to address the poor condition of federal roads in Benue State to ease the difficulties farmers face in transporting their produce to markets.

Director-General of NITDA, Inuwa Abdullahi, praised the First Lady for her commitment to empowering Nigerian youths and women, noting that the initiative would have a lasting impact on the lives of beneficiaries.

“This centre is not only meant to train people; it is designed to transform lives by helping members of the community build relevant digital skills,” he said.

According to him, the initiative is intended to help residents transition from subsistence farming to agribusiness through the adoption of digital technologies.

“With this project, farmers can embrace digital agriculture and modern farming techniques. This is the physical manifestation of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to ensure that every Nigerian participates in the digital economy,” Abdullahi added.

He disclosed that more than 13,300 Benue residents have already benefited from NITDA’s digital training programmes, assuring that the agency would sustain the momentum.

The Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady/Renewed Hope Initiative in Benue State, Scholastica Ben-Sor, commended Senator Tinubu for her support to the state.

She said the First Lady’s various interventions and support for the administration of Governor Alia were yielding life-transforming results across Benue State.