Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has announced the expansion of the Federal Government’s TETFund/Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) ICT Experience Centre programme to 15 additional tertiary institutions across the country.

The First Lady made the disclosure on Tuesday while commissioning the ICT Experience Centre at Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete.

Represented at the ceremony by the wife of the Vice President, Hajia Nana Shettima, Senator Tinubu said construction of the additional centres was already underway in institutions across Adamawa, Bayelsa, Borno, Delta, Edo, Enugu, Imo, Katsina, Nasarawa, Niger, Ondo, Osun, Rivers, Yobe and Zamfara states.

She said the expansion was part of President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s efforts to equip Nigerian youths with the knowledge and digital skills required to compete in a technology-driven global economy.

“The centre we are commissioning today represents opportunity, innovation, knowledge and hope for the future of young people in Kwara State and beyond,” she said.

According to her, the initiative reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to advancing education and digital inclusion in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its focus on youth empowerment, education, innovation and economic transformation.

Tinubu said the KWASU centre was designed as a modern technology hub, featuring ICT laboratories, interactive digital displays, conference facilities and exhibition spaces to support learning, creativity, research and technological advancement.

She explained that KWASU was among six tertiary institutions selected for the pilot phase of the programme, with each of the country’s six geopolitical zones represented.

The First Lady noted that centres had already been commissioned in some of the other zones, while facilities at Kaduna State University and Taraba State University would be commissioned soon.

She urged students of KWASU to take ownership of the facility and make maximum use of the opportunities it provides.

“To our dear students, this centre has been established for you, to help you learn, innovate, develop solutions and unlock your full potential,” she said.

She also encouraged the students to deploy technology positively towards transforming their lives, communities and the nation.

The Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Arc. Sonny Echono, represented by the Director of Monitoring and Evaluation, Arc. Olajide Babatunde, said the TETFund Board of Trustees had approved funding for an ICT Experience Centre in each of the six geopolitical zones.

He said the centres were designed to expose students and lecturers to critical and emerging digital skills, including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, robotics and software development.

“As technology continues to transform economies, the Board of Trustees recognised the need to align Nigeria’s education system with emerging global technology and industrial standards,” he said.

He added that the facilities would provide beneficiaries with practical exposure to contemporary technologies and their applications in sectors such as security, agriculture, healthcare, media and mining.

Echono said the programme would also contribute to improving graduate employability and fostering innovation across Nigerian tertiary institutions.

He described the KWASU facility as one of the foremost ICT Experience Centres being delivered across the country and the third to be commissioned in 2026.

He said the facility was fully furnished and air-conditioned, with supporting power and municipal infrastructure, stressing that its value extended beyond the provision of equipment.

“Beyond providing the equipment, it offers a conducive environment for acquiring practical competencies, exploring ideas and developing innovative solutions,” he said.

The TETFund boss commended the First Lady for her commitment to youth empowerment and advancement, saying her support had strengthened initiatives aimed at preparing Nigerian youths for the technology-driven global economy.

He urged the university management to take full ownership of the facility, ensure proper maintenance and security of the equipment, and regularly upgrade it in response to technological developments.

Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of KWASU, Prof. Shaykh-Luqman Jimoh, described the ICT Experience Centre as a strategic investment in human capital development, innovation and entrepreneurship.

According to him, the facility demonstrates confidence in the potential of Nigerian youths and provides them with the tools and environment required to shape the future.

“This centre is an investment in human capital, in innovation, in entrepreneurship, and most importantly, it is an investment in the future of Nigeria,” Jimoh said.

He thanked the First Lady for facilitating the intervention and assured that the university would maximise the facility for the benefit of students, researchers and the wider university community.

“We will use it, we will explore it, experiment in it, learn and innovate in it,” the vice-chancellor said.