The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has launched an initiative to empower women across the country through information and communication technology (ICT) training. The Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) has expanded its ICT empowerment programs to all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), aiming to equip women with digital skills and essential business tools to support entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihoods.
According to Dr. Adedayo Benjamin-Laniyi, Mandate Secretary for Women Affairs and FCT Coordinator of RHI, the program is designed to provide women with the necessary skills to transform laptops into business centers. The nine-day ICT training, which began on November 11 and will conclude on November 19, is being conducted in collaboration with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA). Each beneficiary receives a laptop, intended solely as a business tool for empowerment, and 40 women from each state and the FCT have been selected to participate.
The initiative is organized across six geopolitical zones to ensure equitable participation and includes classroom sessions that go beyond ICT training, highlighting the importance of networking, mentorship, and collaboration among women to maximize their impact on the community. The program is inclusive, allowing every woman, regardless of her financial situation, to expand her skills, engage in digital entrepreneurship, and positively impact her environment.
Beneficiaries are encouraged to mentor others, helping to grow skills and businesses while supporting other women and youths. Follow-up support and monitoring ensure sustainable, long-term impact. The program is part of the First Lady’s broader advocacy covering health, education, agriculture, and women empowerment, and it will continue to expand with advanced ICT courses and entrepreneurship modules.
The initiative has already received positive feedback from beneficiaries, who hail the program for opening new opportunities. Hauwa Musa, a sachet water trader from Abaji, FCT, said the training improved her small business skills, teaching her how to use laptops, brand products, network, communicate with customers, and expand her business. Another participant noted that the program allowed her to run her tailoring business online, reaching customers beyond her town.
The program’s goal is to create a digitally empowered generation of women who can compete locally and globally. With the expansion of the ICT empowerment programs to all 36 states and the FCT, the Renewed Hope Initiative is taking a significant step towards achieving this goal, providing women with the skills and tools necessary to succeed in the digital economy.