First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu has reaffirmed commitment to women’s empowerment through technology, saying that when women are equipped with the right tools and knowledge, they become “agents of change in their families, communities, and the nation at large.”
She spoke at the formal closing ceremony of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI)/Huawei Women in Tech Training Programme, at the Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja, where 300 women entrepreneurs drawn from the six geopolitical zones of the country were trained in digital and technological skills.
In a statement by her Senior Special Assistant on Media, Busola Kukoyi, the First Lady described the programme as a digital empowerment initiative aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which seeks to promote inclusive growth, economic diversification, and digital transformation.
Encouraging the participants to sustain their learning momentum, Mrs Tinubu urged them to continuously adapt to emerging technologies and use their skills to drive innovation and social impact.
“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. Use your new skills to solve real problems in your various communities, because true innovation is only valuable when it improves lives,” she advised.
The First Lady congratulated the beneficiaries, who came from diverse sectors including agriculture, fashion, catering, retail, event management, and technology services, noting that 24 participants were recognised as outstanding performers.
She expressed appreciation to Huawei Technologies Nigeria for partnering with the Renewed Hope Initiative to empower Nigerian women, adding that the federal government would continue to collaborate with the private sector to bridge technological gaps and foster women-led innovation.
“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 organisations such as Huawei. 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,” she added.
Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mallam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, commended the initiative, saying it gives women a competitive edge in their businesses and careers.
“ICT is the new way of doing things all over the world, and Nigerians cannot afford to be left behind,” he said.
AManaging Director of Huawei Nigeria, Mr. Chris Lou, expressed gratitude to the First Lady for giving the company the opportunity to contribute to women’s economic and social development.
Certificates of participation were presented to the trainees by Wife of the Vice President, Hajia Nana Shettima, Wife of the Deputy Senate President, Hajia Laila Barau, and Wife of the Kwara State Governor, Ambassador Dr. Olufolake AbdulRazaq, among others.
The event was attended by wives of state governors, members of the National Assembly, and heads of security agencies, underscoring the national significance of the initiative in advancing women’s inclusion in Nigeria’s digital economy.
