The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has called on traditional rulers to join forces in eliminating Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), HIV/AIDS, Syphilis, and Hepatitis. She made the appeal during a meeting with the Oyo State Traditional Rulers Council in Ibadan, ahead of the inauguration of a Community ICT Center.

Tinubu emphasized that the cooperation of traditional rulers is crucial in abolishing FGM, a practice that is prevalent in South West Nigeria. She also highlighted the need for enlightenment on HIV/AIDS, Syphilis, and Hepatitis, and urged traditional rulers to escalate preventive and management measures.

Later, the First Lady inaugurated a Community ICT Center in Ibadan, established by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in collaboration with the Renewed Hope Initiative. The center, located in Oladipo Alayande School of Science, Oke Bola, Ibadan, aims to bridge the digital divide and empower women and youths.

Tinubu noted that the center marks another milestone in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration’s efforts to accelerate economic diversification through industrialization and digitalization. She emphasized that ICT skills can empower communities, especially women, to access new opportunities and participate in the global economy.

The First Lady was joined by Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, Minister of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, and NITDA Director General, Kachifu Inuwa Abdullahi. They all emphasized the importance of digital literacy and encouraged beneficiaries to take full advantage of the center.

The Community ICT Center is one of several digital economy initiatives launched by the Renewed Hope Initiative in collaboration with NITDA. Other centers have been established in five states, with ten more set to be commissioned soon. NITDA has also embedded ICT skills acquisition programs into school curricula to meet the president’s mandate of closing the digital gap among Nigerians.