Economy
Kwara: First Lady Inaugurates NITDA/RHI ICT Centre

Kwara: First Lady Inaugurates NITDA/RHI ICT Centre
The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has launched the National Information Technology Development Agency Community ICT Centre in collaboration with the Renewed Hope Initiative.
The Renewed Hope Initiative is Mrs Tinubu’s project introduced to transform lives across the country through various programmes in health, education, agriculture, social investment, and economic empowerment.
During the commissioning of the ICT centre at the Kwara State College of Education on Tuesday, the first lady congratulated the Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Abdullahi, and his team for working closely with RHI to bridge the digital gap nationwide.
She said the construction and equipment provided were in furtherance of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to accelerate economic diversification through industrialisation and digitalisation.
She added that the knowledge of ICT serves as a vital tool for empowering communities, especially women, enabling them to break traditional barriers and access new opportunities.
He stated, “In this collaboration with NITDA, on March 12, 2024, we commissioned the first-ever ICT community centre constructed by NITDA, named the Zainab Bulkachuwa Community ICT Centre in Bauchi State.
“NITDA has constructed four community ICT centres so far.
The centre we are commissioning today is the second, while Benue and Oyo centres are ready to be commissioned soon. Therefore, today’s commissioning presents us with another opportunity under the mandate of the Ministry of Communication, Innovation, and Digital Economy to further expand digital access for our citizens by providing communities with the resources they require to develop ICT skills.’’
According to Mrs Tinubu, Digital Economy Centres in five states and the Federal Capital Territory have also been fully equipped with computers and other ICT materials.
The five states include Jigawa, Ebonyi, Cross River, Oyo, Niger, and the FCT
She said 10 additional centres in Abia, Edo, Delta, Ondo, Kano, Katsina, Lagos, Nasarawa, Yobe, and Zamfara are being fully equipped and will be ready for commissioning soon.
She stated, “I have been informed that these centres have greatly benefitted our youth, especially women and girls, by providing invaluable opportunities for growth and empowerment. I am glad to hear about the success stories and the opportunities these centres are offering members of these various communities that have benefitted from this intervention.
“By equipping themselves with ICT skills, women and girls can enhance their educational prospects, be self-reliant, participate in the global economy, and support their families.
“I urge the community members to take full ownership of this centre. The success of this centre depends on their active participation and utilisation of the resources available.’’
The first lady, under the RHI Economic Empowerment scope, presented a grant of N50 million naira to Olufolake Abdulrazaq, the wife of the Governor of Kwara State, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq.
Mrs Abdulrazaq is also the state coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative.
The money, according to Mrs Tinubu, is to support another set of 1,000 women petty traders with the sum of N50,000 each to enable them to recapitalise their existing businesses in addition to the earlier empowerment of 1,000 women in the state in 2024.
Under the RHI Social Investment Programme, 250 elderly citizens were given a grant of N200,000 each in December 2024 to enable them to celebrate Christmas.
In addition, RHI, under its education programme, is working closely with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) to build an alternative high school for girls in Kwara State.
Responding, the director general of NITDA said the centre was equipped with state-of-the-art facilities for robust learning.
Mr Abdulrazaq and his wife praised Mrs Tinubu and NITDA for providing the centre.

First Lady
He urged stakeholders in a better Nigeria to do more for society, saying, “It is important to invest in the future of the youth. This project is not just an investment in infrastructure; it makes a powerful statement about the essential role of technology in our survival and progress in this era.”
He expressed gratitude to the federal government and the RHI for contributing to innovation in the state.
The centre is named Amina Ndalolo Community ICT Centre.
Economy
Jigawa Government, Azman University Partner To Enhance Education Development

Jigawa Government, Azman University Partner To Enhance Education Development
Jigawa government, Azman University partner to enhance education development. Ms Muhktar said, “I assure you that the Jigawa State government will continue to be a valued partner.’’
The Jigawa State government said it will partner with the Azman University to enhance educational opportunities and promote human capital development.
Governor Umar Namadi stated this during a courtesy visit by the Vice-Chancellor, Fatima-Batool Mukhtar, on Thursday in Dutse.
She said the state government would explore areas of collaboration to support innovative learning and sponsor students in specialised programmes to enhance skill development.
The governor said the partnership also focused on computing, data science, aviation management and artificial intelligence (AI).
“I assure you that the Jigawa State government will continue to be a valued partner,” she said.
Mr Namadi highlighted the relevance of the specialised programmes being offered by the university and reaffirmed his commitment to explore opportunities for indigent students.
He said that the introduction of innovative online courses was designed to attract students and scholars to the university.
Earlier, Ms Mukhtar said the institution was committed to quality education, innovation and excellence.
She said the university introduced online learning services, a compulsory e-learning week and the Students’ Consultative Forum, to encourage students engagement in decision-making.
“We have online services that allow students to attend lectures from home, while lecturers can also teach from their homes.
For the students and staff to be familiar with this, we have set aside one week every semester for compulsory e-learning week,” she said.
She also called for more collaboration in computer programming with notable industry players such as Cisco, Huawei and Oracle Academy.

Jigawa
“Your Excellency, Azman University is already gaining strength in computing programmes, and already we have registration with Cisco, Huawei and Oracle Academy. We are certified instructors for Huawei.
“So, we would like to appeal to your excellency to partner with us in your community development projects and skills development for youth for certified courses in computing programmes,” Ms Muktar said.
The VC commended the state government over the 32 per cent budgetary allocation to the education sector and the N3 billion grant to the scholarship board in the 2025 fiscal year.
Economy
House Of Reps Approve Tax Reform Bills

House Of Reps Approve Tax Reform Bills
House Of Reps approve tax reform bills. Mr Faleke said, “These bills underwent three full days of public hearings, with input from over 80 key stakeholders.’’
The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Finance, James Faleke (APC-Lagos), has assured Nigerians that the tax reform bills will produce widely acceptable laws.
Mr Faleke gave this assurance on Thursday after the House considered and adopted the report on the four tax reform bills during its session in Abuja.
The bills include the Nigerian Tax Bill, the Tax Administration Bill, the Revenue Tax Board Bill, and the Nigerian Revenue Service Establishment Bill.
He said, “These bills underwent three full days of public hearings, with input from over 80 key stakeholders. Afterward, we held an eight-day retreat to debate each clause. I am glad that House members recognised our thorough work and approved all our recommendations.’’
He expressed appreciation to fellow lawmakers and Nigerians who engaged with the bills, assuring that the resulting laws will be acceptable to all.
Mr Faleke also thanked the House leadership for entrusting his committee with processing the tax bills and presenting them for consideration.
He commended President Bola Tinubu for prioritising tax law reforms, noting that some existing tax laws date as far back as 1959.
“We cannot continue using outdated tax laws that no longer meet our business, survival, and revenue needs,” he stressed.
Deputy Committee Chairman, Saidu Abdullahi (APC-Niger), said no bill in the 10th Assembly had generated as much debate as the tax reform bills.
He praised Speaker Tajudeen Abbas for fostering consensus among stakeholders, ensuring broad-based input into the legislative process.
Mr Abdullahi highlighted that representatives from geopolitical zones and regional thought leaders were involved, easing public concerns.
He stated, “The committee’s recommendations reflect the contributions of various stakeholders. These were never seen as perfect documents. The executive made proposals, and the public hearing allowed Nigerians to refine them. Lawmakers have now endorsed the final version.’’
Also, Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere (PDP-Imo) described the process as transparent, with consultants and the executive making adjustments to reflect public interest.

Tax
Mr Ugochinyere said, “In spite of being in the opposition, we are proud of this historic moment. It will expand the tax net and increase government revenue. This reform will enhance tax collection efficiency while protecting small businesses. That is why we worked together to ensure its passage.’’
On his part, Benson Babajimi (APC-Lagos) said stakeholder concerns, including inheritance tax, derivation, and VAT, were carefully considered.
He said, “This is a great day for Nigeria. The necessary reforms have been approved by the House, and we now await Senate concurrence.’’
Economy
Tinubu Welcomes Brazilian Delegation For Bilateral Talks

Tinubu Welcomes Brazilian Delegation For Bilateral Talks
Tinubu welcomes Brazilian delegation for Bilateral talks. A Brazilian delegation led by Minister of Foreign Affairs Mauro Viera visited Abuja to strengthen cooperation between Nigeria and Brazil.
The visit included delivering an official invitation from Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva for President Bola Tinubu to visit Brazil soon.
Discussions focused on trade, investment, and cultural collaboration, with both nations signing agreements to enhance bilateral relations.
Viera praised Tinubu’s participation in the G-20 summit in Brazil last November and emphasized the need for deeper ties in culture, economics, and education.

Tinubu
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Tuggar, highlighted Brazil’s historic support, recalling its participation in Nigeria’s independence celebrations, underscoring the long-standing relationship between both countries.
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