The Wife of the Abia Governor, Mrs Priscilla Otti, has applauded the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for establishing Digital Economy Centres across the country, including in Abia State.
She gave the commendation on Thursday in Umuahia during the virtual inauguration of 10 fully equipped digital learning centres simultaneously launched in Abia, Edo, Delta, Kano, Katsina, Lagos, Nasarawa, Ondo, Yobe and Zamfara states.
The centres were delivered under Mrs Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Social Investment (RHSI) Programme in partnership 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 initiative as a milestone that would expand digital literacy and empower women, girls and 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,” she said.
She praised the First Lady for investing in Abia and commended NITDA’s commitment to bridging the digital divide and driving inclusive growth through technology.
Otti disclosed that the centre would complement Abia’s TechRise programme, introduced by Gov. Alex Otti to expand digital skills among young people. “The first cohort was a resounding success, and the second cohort now has over 850 young people, including women, benefiting from the initiative,” she added.
She assured that the state government would ensure effective utilisation of the facility. “With this centre, we envision a brighter future for our state, and we are ready to make it a reality,” she said.
In her speech, Mrs Tinubu reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to expanding digital literacy and economic inclusion under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
She noted that the initiative supports national goals for digital access, industrialisation and economic diversification.
The First Lady also highlighted NITDA’s support for her pet project, referencing the construction of four community ICT centres named after notable women in Bauchi, Kwara, Lagos and Benue states, alongside several other centres commissioned across the country in 2024.
“In total, 15 ICT centres across the nation have been equipped by NITDA,” she said, describing the new centres as “critical tools for promoting innovation, entrepreneurship and digital inclusion”.
She encouraged beneficiary communities, especially youths, to maximise the facilities to build skills that would improve livelihoods and contribute to national development.
NITDA Director-General, Kashifu Abdullahi, said expanded digital literacy would empower women and strengthen rural economies by improving access to information, markets and productivity tools, particularly for rural farmers.
“With digital literacy, they can access information on weather patterns, farming techniques and market opportunities to make better decisions and increase productivity,” he said.
