“DON’T BE AFRAID TO START SMALL; SOMEONE WILL NOTICE” — FIRST LADY OLUREMI TINUBU
…Performs Closing Ceremony of the 2025 RHI/NITDA Women ICT Training Empowerment Programme
…As NITDA Targets 95% National Digital Literacy by 2030
The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has urged women across the nation to embrace small beginnings, not only in their businesses but also in their digital journeys. She made this call at the closing ceremony of the 2025 Renewed Hope Initiative/National Information Technology Development Agency (RHI/NITDA) Women ICT Training Empowerment Programme.
The First Lady encouraged participants to overcome fear and hesitation by starting modestly but with determination.
“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.
She recalled the early days of the Alternative High School for Girls, which she established in Lagos State during her time as First Lady. Once a new and uncertain idea, it has now grown to more than 40 thriving similar schools across the nation.
Senator Tinubu noted that this should inspire women to patiently build their digital skills and careers without fear of initial limitations. She urged participants to see their training as a stepping stone to greater heights.
The First Lady commended the programme’s remarkable expansion, from training just 35 women initially to now reaching 607 women across various states of the federation.
“You all stand today as ambassadors of digital literacy,” she declared.
“Apply the skills you have learned. Pursue continuous growth in the digital space.”
Earlier, the Director-General of NITDA, Mallam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, emphasized the transformational impact of empowering Nigerian women through technological innovation and digital literacy. He highlighted the Federal Government’s efforts to equip women with the digital tools and skills needed for economic advancement.
He explained that the government’s digital empowerment agenda is grounded in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision.
“As a nation, we cannot achieve a one trillion U.S. dollar economy if half of our population is left behind. Therefore, at NITDA, we have a clear vision to make Nigeria an empowered nation, fostering inclusive economic growth through technological innovation,” he said.
“When our communities are empowered, we thrive.”
“In the 21st century, the illiterate are those who cannot use digital devices. Therefore, we want to empower every Nigerian to develop digital fluency — not just to access the digital economy but to be active participants in it.”
A total of 320 participants for the 2025 edition of the training, drawn from the six geopolitical zones of the country, were presented with brand-new laptops and seed capital of ₦200,000 (two hundred thousand naira) each.
SIGNED
Busola Kukoyi
SSA Media to the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Thursday, 20th November, 2025
