The Wife of Abia State Governor, Mrs. Priscilla Otti, has praised the Wife of the President, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, for establishing Digital Economy Centres across the country, including in Abia.
Otti made the commendation on Thursday in Umuahia during the inauguration of 10 fully-equipped digital learning centres in 10 states by Tinubu. The ceremony was conducted virtually and simultaneously in Abia, Edo, Delta, Kano, Katsina, Lagos, Nasarawa, Ondo, Yobe, and Zamfara.
The centres were established under Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Social Investment (RHSI) initiative in collaboration with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and supervised by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy.
Represented by the Wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adaeze Emetu, Otti described the project as a significant milestone for Abia’s participation in RHSI programmes. She said the centres would enhance digital literacy and empower women, girls, and other vulnerable groups.
“This is truly an impactful initiative that aligns with our vision to equip women and youths with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in today’s digital age,” Otti said, expressing appreciation to Tinubu and lauding the partnership with NITDA for bridging Nigeria’s digital divide and promoting inclusive national development.
Otti added that the centres would complement Abia’s TechRise programme, initiated by Governor Alex Otti to advance digital skills among youths. “The first cohort was a resounding success, and the second cohort now has over 850 participants, including women, benefiting from the initiative,” she said. She pledged that the state would ensure full ownership and effective utilization of the facility.
Sen. Tinubu affirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to expanding digital literacy and economic inclusion nationwide. She described the new digital learning centres as “a critical tool for empowering communities with skills that promote innovation, entrepreneurship, and digital inclusion.”
Tinubu highlighted that the initiative is part of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, aimed at promoting digital access, industrialisation, and economic diversification. She also noted that NITDA has constructed and equipped four community ICT centres named after notable Nigerian women, with a total of 15 ICT centres now operational across the nation.
“The commissioning of these centres provides communities with the resources to develop ICT skills, empowering people to participate meaningfully in the digital economy,” Tinubu said. She encouraged youths to make full use of the facilities to enhance learning, creativity, and entrepreneurship, thereby improving livelihoods and contributing to national development.
Also speaking, NITDA Director-General Mr. Kashifu Abdullahi said the initiative is part of efforts to bridge the digital divide and provide citizens with access to digital infrastructure and services. He noted that digital literacy would help rural women, particularly farmers, access information on weather patterns, farming techniques, and market opportunities, improving productivity and livelihoods.
