The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has commissioned a TETFund/Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) ICT Experience Centre at Kwara State University (KWASU), Ilorin, as part of efforts to expand digital skills and access to technology among students in tertiary institutions.
The facility was commissioned on Tuesday, September 15, with the First Lady represented at the ceremony by the wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Nana Shettima.
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Speaking at the event, Tinubu described the centre as a platform for opportunity, innovation, knowledge and hope, saying the initiative was designed to equip young Nigerians with the digital skills needed to participate effectively in a technology-driven economy.
She said the centre provides modern facilities to support learning, research, innovation and entrepreneurship, adding that young people must be given the tools and opportunities required to turn their ideas into solutions.
Tinubu disclosed that the KWASU centre is one of six ICT Experience Centres selected under the pilot phase of the initiative, with institutions from the six geopolitical zones benefiting from the programme.
According to her, similar facilities have been commissioned at Ekiti State University, the University of Cross River State and Anambra State Polytechnic, while centres at Kaduna State University and Taraba State University are also ready for commissioning.
She further announced that the programme would be expanded to 15 additional tertiary institutions in Adamawa, Bayelsa, Borno, Delta, Edo, Enugu, Imo, Katsina, Nasarawa, Niger, Ondo, Osun, Rivers, Yobe and Zamfara states.
Tinubu urged students to make effective use of the facilities by developing their skills, pursuing innovative ideas and creating solutions capable of addressing challenges in their communities and beyond.
The Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono, represented at the ceremony by the Director of Monitoring and Evaluation, Olajide Babatunde, said the centre was part of efforts to bridge Nigeria’s digital skills gap and prepare students for emerging opportunities in the global economy.
He said the facilities would expose students to areas including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and robotics, while also supporting research, innovation and entrepreneurship.
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq urged the university to maximise the centre by using it to promote innovation, employment creation and technological development.
The Vice-Chancellor of KWASU, Professor Shaykh-Luqman Alade Jimoh, described the centre as a significant investment in the future of the university and its students, saying it would enhance research, entrepreneurship and engagement with the wider community.
The commissioning of the facility marks another step in the Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen digital infrastructure in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions, with the planned expansion expected to provide more students across the country with access to modern technology and digital learning opportunities.
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