FIRST LADY, OLUREMI TINUBU COMMISSIONS DIGITAL LEARNING CENTRE IN UMUAHIA

In a significant stride toward bridging Nigeria’s digital divide and empowering women and youths with 21st-century skills, the Wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has officially commissioned and handed over a state-of-the-art Digital Learning Centre in Umuahia, Abia State.

The facility, located within the Ministry of Women Affairs and Women Development Centre, Umuahia, was established through a collaboration between the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), and the Office of the Wife of the Governor of Abia State. It is equipped with modern computers, high-speed internet, and advanced ICT learning tools designed to foster inclusive digital growth and literacy among women and youths.

The commissioning, which took place virtually, was part of a nationwide inauguration of ten fully equipped digital learning centres simultaneously launched across ten states of the federation including Abia, Edo, Delta, Kano, Katsina, Lagos, Nasarawa, Ondo, Yobe, and Zamfara. The initiative falls under the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, aimed at expanding access to digital education and building ICT capacity for sustainable socio-economic transformation.

Delivering her remarks virtually, Senator Tinubu underscored the importance of digital literacy in driving inclusion and national development. She emphasized that the Renewed Hope Initiative, through this project, is opening new opportunities for Nigerians, especially women and youths to thrive in an increasingly digital world.

The Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, who also joined the ceremony virtually, described the project as a strategic step towards empowering citizens with digital skills essential for innovation, entrepreneurship, and competitiveness. He noted that the establishment of the centres demonstrates the administration’s commitment to harnessing technology for national prosperity, urging beneficiaries to use the facility not just for personal growth but for the advancement of their communities.

Representing the Wife of the Governor of Abia State, Her Excellency Mrs. Priscilla Chidinma Otti, the Wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adaeze Emetu, expressed deep appreciation to the First Lady for her visionary intervention in digital empowerment. She described the initiative as a landmark achievement that resonates with the Renewed Hope Initiative’s Social Investment Programme and aligns seamlessly with the developmental priorities of the Abia State Government.

Mrs. Emetu reaffirmed that the Otti-led administration places strong emphasis on youth and women empowerment through technology. She cited the TechRise Programme, a flagship digital training scheme introduced by Governor Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, which has successfully trained hundreds of young Abians, including women, in diverse technology-driven skills. The ongoing second phase, she noted, has already engaged over 850 youths across the state, signaling Abia’s readiness to become a digital innovation hub in the Southeast.

She further pledged that Abia State would take full ownership and active management of the new digital centre to ensure its sustainability and maximum impact. According to her, the facility will serve as a game-changer by providing digital learning opportunities that enhance educational prospects, promote self-reliance, and prepare women and youths to participate meaningfully in the global digital economy.

Mrs. Otti also reaffirmed the state’s commitment to continuous collaboration with the Renewed Hope Initiative, NITDA, and other development partners in promoting women and youth inclusion, innovation, and empowerment.

The commissioning ceremony attracted an impressive audience comprising women from various organizations, students from secondary and tertiary institutions, and senior government officials, all united in celebrating a transformative initiative that promises to redefine the digital landscape of Abia State.

The commissioning of the Umuahia Digital Learning Centre marks not just an infrastructural addition but a symbol of renewed hope, opportunity, and inclusion, a platform where women and youths can acquire the digital skills needed to shape their future and contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s t echnological growth.