First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has encouraged women across the country to embrace small beginnings and pursue digital skills with confidence as she presided over the closing ceremony of the 2025 Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) and National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) Women ICT Training Empowerment Programme.
Speaking at the event, Senator Tinubu urged participants to approach their digital and entrepreneurial journeys with determination, stressing that modest starts often lead to meaningful opportunities.
“Don’t be afraid to start small. Somebody — especially when you do it small and do it very well — somebody will take note,” she said.
The first lady reflected on her experience establishing the Alternative High School for Girls during her time as Lagos State First Lady, noting that what began as an uncertain idea has now grown into more than 40 similar schools nationwide. She said the success story should inspire women to patiently develop their digital skills without fear of early challenges.
She praised the growth of the ICT empowerment programme, which began with 35 women and has now trained 607 participants across all states. “You all stand today as ambassadors of digital literacy. Apply the skills you have learnt. Pursue continuous growth in the digital space,” she told the graduates.
Earlier, NITDA Director-General, Mallam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, highlighted the federal government’s vision to expand digital literacy and empower women as key drivers of national development. He reaffirmed the agency’s target of achieving 95% national digital literacy by 2030.
“As a nation, we cannot achieve a one trillion U.S. dollar economy if half of our population is left behind,” the DG said, linking the initiative to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s broader economic agenda.
He stressed the need for Nigerians to attain digital fluency to actively participate in the modern economy. “In the 21st century, the illiterate are those who cannot use digital devices. Therefore, we want to empower every Nigerian not just to access the digital economy but to be an active part of it,” he added.
