First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, through the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), has expanded ICT empowerment programmes to all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Adedayo Benjamin-Laniyi, mandate secretary for Women Affairs and FCT Coordinator of RHI, told journalists in Abuja on Sunday that the programme targeted women nationwide.

She explained that it was designed to equip them with digital skills and essential business tools to support entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihoods.

“The nine-day ICT training, in collaboration with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), began on November 11 and will conclude on November 19.

“Each beneficiary receives a laptop, which is intended solely as a business tool for empowerment.

Forty women from each state and the FCT have been selected.

“The initiative is organised across six geopolitical zones to ensure equitable participation,” she said, explaining that the programme equipped women to transform laptops into business centres.

Ms Benjamin-Laniyi noted that the classroom sessions went beyond ICT training, highlighting the importance of networking, mentorship, and collaboration among women to maximise their impact on the community.

“Your laptop is more than a tool; it empowers you and others,” she said.

The initiative is inclusive, she added, allowing every woman, indigent or non-indigent, to expand her skills, engage in digital entrepreneurship, and positively impact her environment.

She further explained that beneficiaries were encouraged to mentor others, helping to grow skills and businesses while supporting other women and young people.

Ms Benjamin-Laniyi said the programme was part of the First Lady’s broader advocacy covering health, education, agriculture, and women empowerment, and it would continue to expand with advanced ICT courses and entrepreneurship modules.

“Our goal is to create a digitally empowered generation of women who can compete locally and globally,” she said.

Some beneficiaries hailed the initiative for opening new opportunities.

Hauwa Musa, a sachet water trader from Abaji, FCT, stated that the training enhanced her small business skills.

“We learned how to use laptops, brand products, network, communicate with customers, and expand our businesses,” she said.

Another participant added that the programme allowed her to run her tailoring business online, reaching customers beyond her town. 

(NAN)