By Timothy Choji
The First Lady of Nigeria, Oluremi Tinubu, says that when women are well empowered, they can become agents of change in their families and the society at large.
He made the declaration on Thursday at the closing ceremony of the Renewed Hope Initiative’s technical training, where 300 women selected from across the country benefited.
The training, organized in collaboration with a private technology company, HUAWEI, was tagged Women in Tech Training Programme.
She explained that the initiative, which aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, to promote inclusive growth and digital empowerment for all Nigerians, will accelerate economic diversification through industrialization and digitization.
“This training programme is a timely one with far-reaching benefits. It is a digital empowerment one, aimed at equipping female entrepreneurs with practical technological skills to scale up their businesses, participate meaningfully in the digital economy, and become champions of digital transformation in their communities,” she said.
Mrs Tinubu urged the beneficiaries to ensure they keep updating their knowledge because technology will continue to change.
“To the participants, although the training has ended, technology keeps changing. Your biggest strength is your ability to keep learning, evolving, and adapting to new trends available for your growth in technology.
“Use your new skills to solve real problems in your various communities, because true innovation is only valuable when it improves lives. Remember, you are part of a larger network, support one another and grow together,” she added.
Mrs Tinubu assured them that the present administration will continue to do all it can to meet the technology and economic needs of its over 250 million population, especially with help from well-meaning corporate organizations such as Huawei.
“I congratulate all the participants, representing diverse sectors such as agriculture, fashion, catering, retail, event management, and technology services, drawn from the six (6) geopolitical zones of Nigeria.
“I thank HUAWEI Technologies Company Limited for this collaboration with the Renewed Hope Initiative. I charge you all to mentor others in your various businesses. Be a guide for young girls and women who think technology is not for them,” the First Lady advised.
In his remarks, the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Abdulahi, noted that the training was a valuable opportunity to place the women on a winning streak in their various businesses and careers.
He said ICT is the new way of doing things all over the world, and Nigerians cannot afford to be left out.
The Managing Director, Huawei Nigeria, Chris Lou, thanked the First Lady for the opportunity to contribute to the economic and social development of women.
Out of the 300 women, who were drawn from various sectors including agriculture, fashion, catering, retail, event management, and technology services, and from the 6 geopolitical zones of Nigeria, 24 of them were categorized as outstanding.
Certificates of Participation were presented to the participants by the wife of the Vice President, Nana Shettima, the wife of the Deputy Senate President, Laila Barau, and the wife of the Kwara State Governor, Dr Olufolake Abdulrasaq, among others.
Also present at the event held at the Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja, were the Wives of State Governors, and their counterparts from the National Assembly, among others.