First Lady empowers 2,000 Benue women with N100m grant, unveils ICT centre

The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Tuesday announced a N100 million grant for 2,000 petty traders in Benue State as start-up capital for their businesses.

She spoke at the inauguration of the Community Information and Technology Centre in Ihugh, Vandeikya Local Government Area of the state, noting that ICT serves as a significant tool for empowering communities, especially women.

Mrs Tinubu said that Benue now has four ICT centres, while 15 others have been established across states of the federation, including Abia, Cross River, Rivers, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Jigawa, and the Federal Capital Territory.

She stated that all the centres were equipped with computers and other ICT facilities, adding that the initiative was designed to bridge the digital gap across the country.

She said, “The knowledge of ICT serves as a significant tool for empowering communities, especially women, and will enable them to break new opportunities and enhance youths in their educational prospect in the global economy.

“On the grant, the Renewed Hope Initiative on our part will present a N50 million grant to 1,000 women in Vandeikya, and an additional N50 million to support 1,000 in Makurdi and environs to recapitalise their existing businesses, which is a total of N100 million to empower 2,000 women engaged in petty trading.”

Mrs Tinubu named the ICT centre in Ihugh after Louis Aluor.

The centre was built by the Renewed Hope Initiative in collaboration with the National Information Technology Development Agency.

Earlier, on her arrival in the state, the First Lady inaugurated an 11.5-kilometre road in Makurdi, while one of the roads, Ishayaba, was named after her.

In his remarks, Governor Hyacinth Alia described the ICT centre as a transformational facility that will promote entrepreneurship, e-marketing, and incubation support for small-scale enterprises.

He said the state government is committed to providing start-up funds and ensuring power and internet connectivity at the centres.