Wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Tuesday, inaugurated a multi-million naira ICT Centre at the Oladipo Alayande School of Science, Oke-Ado, Ibadan, Oyo State, naming it after a former Minister of Industry, Chief (Mrs) Onikepo Akande.

The development comes as the First Lady called on traditional rulers in the South-West and other stakeholders in the region to unite in the fight against cervical cancer, tuberculosis, and other preventable diseases ravaging Nigerian communities.

Speaking at the inauguration of the ICT centre, Tinubu highlighted the project’s alignment with President Bola Tinubu’s digital economy drive.

“This is the third of several ICT centres we are delivering across the country to provide digital skills and unlock economic opportunities,” she said, adding that 10 more centres in Abia, Delta, Edo, Kano, Katsina, Lagos, Nasarawa, Ondo, Yobe and Zamfara would be inaugurated soon.

The President’s wife noted, “Our programmes are not political. They are for every Nigerian regardless of party affiliation.”

She said the inauguration, under the mandate of the Ministry of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy, was to further expand digital access to citizens by providing the communities with the resources they required to develop ICT skills.

“This centre we are inaugurating today is the third and by the grace of God, the fourth, which is located in Benue State, will soon be ready for inauguration.

“All other digital economic centres have been fully equipped with computers and ICT materials in five states, namely Cross River, Ebonyi, Jigawa, Niger, Oyo and the Federal Capital Territory.

“This is in line with the priority area of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu to accelerate economic diversification through industrialisation and digitalisation,” she said.

Mrs Tinubu urged members of the community to take full ownership of the centre, adding that “the success of this centre depends on your active participation and utilisation of the resources available.

Chief Akande, visibly moved, praised the First Lady’s vision and appreciated the gesture.

“We are blessed to have a First Lady who is incredibly compassionate, very articulate, very cerebral, exceedingly amiable and exceptionally God-fearing.

“You are a woman of class and a believer in the Nigeria project. You have touched many lives in many ways, including mine, by naming this NITDA ICT Centre at Oladipo Alayande School of Science in my name.

“I am grateful for this honour. I thank you most sincerely from the bottom of my heart. You have done a lot within a short time. We are proud of you,” she said.

She said Nigeria had the largest number of startups in Africa, and Ibadan was the third-largest city for startups after Lagos and Abuja.

“I think Ibadan’s brand needs to be changed from ancient city to digital city,” she said.

Governor Seyi Makinde thanked Mrs Tinubu for bringing the ICT centre to Ibadan.

“It is one for the geopolitical zone, I would have thought you would take it to Lagos or Osun, but thank you for bringing it to this state,” he said.

He assured her that the government and the people of the state would take full advantage of the project.

Earlier, the Director General/Chief Executive Officer of the National Information Technology Development Agency, Kashifu Abdullahi, said,

“We are not just building a centre, we are captivating the leaders of tomorrow.

“We are unlocking opportunities. We are igniting the potential of our youth and students to actively participate in the digital economy.

“This centre represents a strong commitment by President Tinubu to a digitally inclusive Nigeria — a nation where every citizen, regardless of social status, gender, or affiliation, has access to digital tools and skills for the 21st century,” he said.

Speaking at a high-level stakeholders’ meeting held in Ibadan on Tuesday, Mrs Tinubu emphasised the need for collaborative efforts to reduce preventable deaths.

The event, attended by royal fathers, government officials, and industry leaders, was part of her Renewed Hope Initiative, a national programme targeting health, education, and digital empowerment.

“Shortly after swearing-in, we started putting things together and we had a meeting with all the First Ladies of states and look at the way we are going to come up with initiatives that will benefit our people.

“Diseases like cervical cancer and tuberculosis are preventable. We must all come together to eradicate them.

“As the global champion for the Stop TB campaign, I can tell you that treatment is available, and there should be no stigma. We must encourage testing and treatment,” she said.

Earlier in their goodwill messages, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, said Mrs Tinubu’s visit was a testament to the Federal Government’s commitment to the development of the state.

He said the Renewed Hope Initiative would be of benefit to the people, not only in the state but the entire region.

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, said he was proud of Mrs Tinubu for being a pillar of support for the President.

The monarch commended her programme for touching millions of lives across the nation, saying the initiative had complemented the efforts of the President.

In attendance at the events were the wife of the Vice President, Nana Shentima; wife of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Fatimah Abbas; Minister of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani; wives of governors, and members of the Renewed Hope Initiative.

Other royal fathers present were representatives of the Olubadan of Ibadan, the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Olaoye Ghandi, the Aseyin of Iseyinland, Oba Sefiu Oyebola and the Olugbon of Orile Igbon, Oba Francis Alao, among others.