Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Tuesday commissioned a newly constructed Information and Communication Technology (ICT) hub in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
She also named the ultra modern computer facility in honour of Chief Mrs. Onikepo Akande, a distinguished businesswoman and former Minister of Industry.
The ICT facility, established under the auspices of the Renewed Hope Initiative, a social intervention programme spearheaded by Mrs. Tinubu, aims to bridge the digital divide and enhance technological opportunities for youths in the state.
Located at Oke-Bola area of Ibadan, the hub is equipped with state-of-the-art computer systems, internet access, and training modules designed to support innovation, digital literacy, and entrepreneurial growth.
Speaking during the inauguration, the First Lady, accompanied by wife of the vice president; Hajia Nana Shettima and wives of other governors, praised chief Onikepo Akande for her longstanding contributions to Nigeria’s economic development and commitment to women empowerment.
She particularly commended wife of Governor Seyi Makinde and First Lady of Oyo state, Engr. Tamunominini Makinde, for her assertive role in facilitating the ICT Hub project to Oyo state.
As part of her advocacy for healthy living across the nation, wife of the President has also mobilized the traditional rulers in the southwest and other stakeholders in her campaign to reduce the death rate arising from cervical cancer, Tuberculosis and other deadly diseases.
Senator Tinubu opined that death arising from the deadly diseases are preventable if necessary precautionary measures are taken by the relevant stakeholders.
She made the submission during an enlarged stakeholders meeting which had in attendance traditional rulers, top government functionaries, captain of industries and other categories of people drawn from across all the geo-political zones in the state.
She said the campaign against eradication of the deadly diseases in the Country is part of the Renewed Hope Initiative of the present administration in the Country.
Senator Tinubu said eradication of the deadly diseases should be the primary concern of the citizenry, as a result all hands must be on deck to checkmate it.
Her words, “Shortly after we were sworn in, we started putting things together and we had a meeting with all the First Ladies of State and look at the way we are going to come up with initiatives that will benefit our people.
“I am the global champion for Stop TB, and Tuberculosis Advocacy Campaign, end Tuberculosis Advocacy Campaign, because we have to end tuberculosis in Nigeria by 2030. So, please, the government is treating those who have it, and, you know, there is no stigma to it. Tuberculosis is airborne, so, once you have been infected, please get tested. Because you can pass it on to other people who are not vaccinated.
She, however, thanked the traditional rulers in attendance, wives of the governors, and members of RHI among others for their commitments and support for the initiative.
Furthermore, the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), under the supervision of the Presidency also distributed a large consignment of food items to vulnerable groups in Oyo State.
Beneficiaries included widows, the elderly, persons with disabilities, and low-income households. The relief effort is part of the Initiative’s expanded goal to provide social safety nets and mitigate the impact of economic hardship across the country.
Senator Oluremi Tinubu reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to inclusive development and called on public and private stakeholders to partner with the government in efforts to uplift disadvantaged communities.
Earlier in his goodwill message, Governor Seyi Makinde, thanked Senator Tinubu for citing the ICT hub, which was described as a huge project, in Ibadan.
Makinde in his remarks, insisted that the only way to securing economic prosperity that is sustainable is by investing heavily on human capital development, calling on Nigerian leaders to begin exploring the boundless opportunities in ICT and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The governor disclosed his scepticism and fears at the possibility of citing the project elsewhere at the conception stage of the project.
Gov. Makinde reaffirmed his belief in and his administration’s commitment to human capital development maintaining that the world has continued to evolve over the decades along modern technology stressing that Artificial Intelligence (AI) and ICT remain the pathway to the future while stressing that the natural resources under the ground would soon cease to be the economic mainstay to rely on for revenue generation.
In attendance at the two events were, wife of the Vice President, Hajia Nana Shettima, wife of the Speaker of House of Representatives, Mrs Fatimah Abass, wife of governors, and members of the Renewed Hope Initiative. other.
Others were; the federal minister for ICT; Bosun Tijani, Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade, the Ooni of Ile Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Olaoye Ghandi, representatives of Olubadan of Ibadanland, and other notable traditional and political stakeholders
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