Oluremi Tinubu Flags Off 2025 Women ICT Training in South-South Region

By: Elizabeth Ide

In continuation of her nationwide efforts to empower women with digital literacy, the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, through her Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) in collaboration with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, flagged off the 2025 Women ICT Training and Empowerment Programme for the South-South region.

The 7-day training, which brought together 40 participants from the six states of the South-South geopolitical zone, is taking place in Benin City, Edo State.

The programme falls under the Women Empowerment and Education arm of RHI, which focuses on providing women with access to education, scholarships, and skills development opportunities.

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, represented by the Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady, Edo State, Mrs. Edesili Okpebholo Anani, stated that the training was designed to promote gender equality, digital inclusion, and economic empowerment among Nigerian women.

Mrs Anani, represented by the Managing Director of the Edo State Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA), Mr. Eghosa Urhoghide, commended NITDA and its Director-General for their partnership and consistency in driving the initiative across the country.

The First Lady disclosed that similar training programmes are ongoing in the six geopolitical zones, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with 320 women currently undergoing ICT training nationwide.

She urged the trainees to remain dedicated and determined to make the most of the opportunity, noting that the skills acquired would enable them to contribute meaningfully to their communities and the nation at large.

Representative of the Edo First Lady, Mr. Eghosa Urhoghide (third from left), and Representative of the Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Mr. Jeremiah Odey, at the flag-off of the 2025 Women ICT Training and Empowerment Programme in Benin City, Edo State.

Representative of the Edo First Lady, Mr. Eghosa Urhoghide, and Representative of the Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Mr. Jeremiah Odey, Coordinators, Facilitators and trainees at the flag-off of the 2025 Women ICT Training and Empowerment Programme in Benin City, Edo State.

Also speaking, the Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, represented by the Agency’s Project Manager, Mr. Jeremiah Odey, commended the Renewed Hope Initiative for championing digital literacy and women’s empowerment. He lauded the Edo State Government for hosting the South-South trainees and providing a conducive environment for the exercise.

Odey added that the Tinubu-led administration remains deeply committed to advancing digital education and ensuring that Nigerian women and youth are equipped with relevant skills for the modern economy.

During the course of the programme, trainees are expected to learn key modules under the Digital Literacy Domain, which encompass problem-solving, content creation, security and privacy, data and information management, hardware and software operations, as well as information and data literacy.

Speaking on behalf of the trainees, Miss Modlin Odu, appreciated the First Lady of Nigeria, the NITDA team, and the First Lady of  Edo State for making the training possible. She also appealed that participants be considered for job placements in government agencies after the training, to enable them put their newly acquired ICT skills to productive use.