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Use Tech To Rewrite Negative Narrative About Nigeria, Mrs Tinubu Tells Women …Launches Skills Training In Rivers
Wife of the President and National Chairman of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has charged women to use the opportunity provided by technology to rewrite the negative narrative portrayed against the country in the cyberspace that is in sharp constrast with its true national value.
She has also urged women to start the process of building solid value-based foundation to launch Nigeria into the technology world in the next decade.
Senator Tinubu gave the charge while declaring open a two-day Women in Tech Skills Training for Women Entrepreneurs for the South-South Region, organised by the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) in partnership with Huawei, at the African Centre for Excellence, University of Port Harcourt on Tuesday.
Represented by the Wife of the Rivers State Governor and State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), Lady Valerie Siminalayi Fubara, Senator Tinubu said with Nigeria facing enormous challenges amidst negative narrative, it behoves every citizen of the country, particularly women, to use every available opportunity to project it in positive trajectory.
She said, “This training programme, jointly coordinated by technology giant, Huawei and the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), pet project of the Wife of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a gateway programme targetted at raising the number and influence of women in technology in Nigeria.
“Our nation is facing a tough time with the narrative being presented through the cyberspace. This narrative, which does not represent our true value, is sad testimonial on our national image, and it must be corrected. It is my belief that rewriting the narrative starts with you.
“Every citizen owe it to this country to use every opportunity available to put Nigeria in positive pedestal. I am aware that women have always occupied strategic positions in development planning in Nigeria, and as the world continues to evolve, especially in technology-driven disciplines, it is only very necessary to immediately commence the building of a solid value-based foundation for Nigeria’s sojourn in the tech world in the next decade,” she noted.
The Wife of the President, who noted the strategic roles women play in society and the challenges faced as a result of gender bias, lack of representation and access to leadership, stated that the programme was put in place to develop and grow more women who are determined, skillful and committed to breaking new grounds in tech development.
Senator Tinubu, while noting the leading role of Germany, France and others in the tech business as a result of deliberate plan to achieve set goals, stressed optimism that Nigerian women can also become world leaders through deliberate training, and nurturing to achieve desired aim.
She emphasised, “In partnering with Huawei for this training, the Renewed Hope Initiative is not oblivious of the strategic roles women play in the healthcare and health services sector, the educational sector, and indeed, in government and private sector organisations.
“However, it is our conviction that giving the enormous endowment of every Nigerian woman, there should be a deliberate focus of finding ways of increasing their productivity, especially in technology-driven areas.
“It is obvious that the biggest underlying challenges has always been gender bias, lack of representation, lack of access to leadership opportunities, and that is precisely why the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) has floated this programme to grow more determined and skillful women that are committed to staying focused in breaking new grounds in tech development.”
She observed, “Germany, France and others around the World are leading in the tech business today because there was a deliberate plan to do so. It is, therefore, our conviction that Nigerian women can rise to be world beaters, if we make deliberate plan to train, nurture and position them for such sectoral leads.”
The Wife of the President noted the great potentials inherent in women, and urged them to build more frontiers for networking, skills building initiatives and fostering new areas of mentorship for younger generation of women committed to tech development.
She added, “The Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) believes that every woman here has great potentials. I, therefore, urge you to build more frontiers for networking with global women in tech movement, skills building initiatives, and also foster new areas of mentorship for the younger generation of women interested in tech development.”
According to her, “When you do this, rest assured that you would have built the future of e-governance business and championed the course of a new position thinking, tech service generation of Nigerians on all fronts.”
She called on Nigerian women, irrespective of ethnic affiliation, to continue to support the efforts of the Wife of the President in uplifting society through the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI).
“It gives me great pleasure to be part of today’s event. When I was called upon to represent our beloved mother, Her Excellency, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON, Wife of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria in this event, I saw it as an opportunity to meet with women who have the capacity and knowledge to shape the country of our dream.
“I am, therefore, delighted to represent our First Lady, a woman whose vision in the transformation of female values in Nigeria is unequivocal, and I call on Nigerian women, irrespective of ethnic affiliation, to support her genuine efforts in uplifting the family through quality programmes embarked upon under the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI).”
In his goodwill message, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Prof Owunari Georgewill, expressed gratitude to the Wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for initiating the programme geared towards upscaling women in technological skills.
Represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research, Prof Iyeopu Siminalayi, Prof Georgewill noted the partnership that had existed between the university and Huawei in upscaling it’s students in IT skills like networking, cyber security, and commended Huawei for partnering with the First Lady of Nigeria to undertake the programme, while expressing the belief that the programme will benefit the women in the state who are being underrepresented in the tech world.
In his welcome address, the Managing Director of Huawei, who spoke through the Country Representative, Dr Nihinlola Fafori, said the programme is the 5th batch of the RHI’s Women in Tech Training, which covers the South-South Region.
She stated that the programme, which has been on since the first quarter of this year, had covered over four geo-political zones with about 25 states in Nigeria, emphasizing that the training will enable participants drive their businesses through technology and explore more opportunities within the tools that will enable their business to be reached across other consumers not just within the region but in Nigeria and globally.
Presenting the Training Overview, Huawei Consultant, Chinedu Ogbiede, noted that the training will afford participants the opportunity to understand the role of women in ICT, become more employable, run their businesses better, harness the potentials of ICT, and support their families and communities.
He asserted that with the training, the era of ‘I don’t know were to start’ is over, because with the aid of technology, Artificial Intelligence (AI), they will be able to launch a business.
Speaking on behalf of the participants, Mrs Efe Ovrine, lauded the Wife of the President for her deep-seated idea of putting the programme together to train women and empower them technologically, promising to utilize the experience gained to impact on society.
The Organised Labour yesterday, called on the Federal Government to ensure inclusiveness in policy making and guide against erosion of rights, such as free speech and association.
The President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Joe Ajaero made the call at the 2025 Workers’ Day celebration held at the Eagle’s Square, Abuja.
The Tide source reports Ajaero and the President, Trade Union Congress, Mr Festus Osifo delivered a joint statement on behalf of the organised labour at the event.
Ajaero described May Day as, not only a moment to honour workers’ sacrifices, but also a platform to demand justice and accountability from those in public office.
He frowned at the alleged suppression of protests, and the erosion of rights of workers by some agents
According to him, workers have a duty to resist economic injustice, insecurity, and policies that undermine their dignity.
Speaking on the theme of the day, the NLC President underscored the need for Nigerian workers to reclaim the civic space and resist policies that contribute to worsening economic conditions.
“Our theme this year – “Reclaiming the Civic Space in the midst of Economic Hardship – reflects the urgent need for citizens to protect democracy and push back against repression.
“The civic space, where Nigerians express their concerns and challenge injustices is shrinking.
“If we fail to reclaim this space, the foundation of our democracy risks collapse,” he said
Ajaero, therefore, urged workers to unite and resist division, fear, and despair.
He also urged them to mobilise and organise for change, declaring that the right to demand better conditions is non-negotiable.
“Without workers, there is no society; without labour, there is no development. We must take our place in the fight for economic justice and democratic governance.”
Speaking in the same veins, Osifo said workers are the backbone of the nation—the educators, healthcare providers, builders, farmers, and innovators who sustain its economy -.
He stressed the need for the labour to reclaim the civic space even in the midst of economic hardship.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has disassociated itself from a fraudulent site requesting payments from candidates who missed the ongoing 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The board said that the site, “Copyrightwriter Personal J Rescheduling Flw” and account number 8520641017 at Sterling Bank, associated with it, are scam.
The disclaimer is contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday by the Board’s Public Communication Advisor, Dr Fabian Benjamin.
Benjamin said the account is being exploited to defraud unsuspecting candidates who missed their UTME.
“We issue this urgent notice to inform the public about this nefarious scheme targeting candidates who were unable to participate in the UTME.
“Some unscrupulous individuals are deceitfully soliciting payments of N15,700 under the false pretence of offering rescheduling services for the examination.
“Let us be unequivocal: this, it is a blatant scam, and we are confident that the public will not fall prey to such cheap and regressive tactics.
” The individuals behind this scam have no affiliation with JAMB or any legitimate government agency.
“The account details provided in these communications are entirely fictitious and bear no connection to any official processes; they exist solely for the purpose of perpetrating fraud,” he said.
Benjamin called on Sterling bank to take immediate and decisive action against this criminal activity.
According to him, JAMB has reported the matter to the relevant security agencies and actively pursuing those responsible for this deceitful act.
He further said that “JAMB does not reschedule examinations for candidates who miss their scheduled tests due to reasons unrelated to the Board’s actions”.
He, however, said that the Board is conducting a thorough investigation for candidates whose biometrics failed during verification and were thus unable to sit for the examination.
He said those without discrepancies would be invited to retake the examination at no cost , stressing that “no cost is required”
“It is imperative to understand that JAMB does not charge any fees for examinations after a candidate has completed their registration.
“We strongly urge all candidates to remain vigilant and not to succumb to these fraudulent schemes.
“Protect yourselves and report any suspicious activity immediately,” he explained.
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has expressed its willingness to partner with the United Nations (UN) to accelerate the development of the Niger Delta region.
Dr Samual Ogbuku, Managing Director of the NDDC, made the appeal in a statement issued by the commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mrs Seledi Thompson-Wakama, in Port Harcourt on yesterday.
According to the statement, Ogbuku sought the UN’s support during his visit to the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator (UNRHC), Mr Mohammed Fall, at the UN regional office in Abuja.
He called on the global body to provide the NDDC with technical assistance and expert services to support the region’s development.
“We are eager to collaborate with the UN, recognising that the state governments in the region and the NDDC alone cannot achieve the level of regional development required,” he said.
Ogbuku identified key areas where support would be needed, including the provision of portable and affordable drinking water powered by high-tech solar energy sources.
He also highlighted the importance of reforesting the mangrove swamps, which have been severely damaged by decades of environmental degradation caused by oil exploration in the Niger Delta.
“Although the NDDC has made progress in providing solar-powered streetlights across the region, we still require UN support in delivering solar energy solutions for residential buildings.
“We also wish to explore the possibility of installing solar mini-grids in homes across communities, which would boost local commerce and trade,” he added.
The NDDC managing director further appealed for increased UN involvement in areas such as healthcare, education, youth training, gender development, and food security.
Ogunku stated that such interventions would significantly enhance the standard of living in the region.
In response, Fall affirmed the UN’s readiness to collaborate with the NDDC to fast track development in the Niger Delta.
He assured that the UN would support initiatives in food security, job creation, education, and renewable energy, among other areas.
“We aim to approach development in the Niger Delta holistically, rather than focusing solely on environmental pollution.
“This is merely an entry point; however, the UN’s development vision aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are designed to positively impact various aspects of people’s lives,” Fall stated.
He assured the NDDC of continued and fruitful engagements to drive the region’s development.