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Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has described the Renewed Hope Startup Hub in Wuye, Abuja, as a major step towards technological advancement, youth empowerment and digital inclusion, urging young innovators to use the facility to develop solutions capable of competing in the global market.
She made this known during the foundation-laying ceremony of the Renewed Hope Startup Hub, where she commended the Japanese government, through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), for supporting the initiative.
She said the project aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises youth empowerment through entrepreneurship, skills development and sustainable job creation.
According to her, the startup hub is expected to serve as a national centre for incubation, hardware prototyping, research and international business collaboration, providing young Nigerians with the resources to transform innovative ideas into viable products.
“To our young innovators, this startup hub is yours. You can arrive here with a sketch and leave with a working prototype that takes you into the global market space. Let this hub be the home where your dreams are nurtured and scaled,” she said.
The First Lady expressed appreciation to the Japanese government and JICA for the strategic grant supporting the project, noting that the partnership reflected a shared belief in Nigeria’s digital potential and the creativity of its youthful population.
She also commended the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, and his team for their efforts in securing the partnership.
She urged NITDA to ensure that the facility, upon completion, would be accessible and inclusive, with young people from every part of the country able to benefit from its programmes and opportunities.
She said the development represented an important investment in the future of Nigerian youths and the country’s digital economy.
Recounting her longstanding relationship with Abdullahi, the First Lady disclosed that their partnership began when he offered computer training to 100 members of her constituency while she was serving in the Senate.
She recalled that the training, conducted at a centre established at the University of Lagos, was one of the most effective empowerment programmes her constituents had received.
Tinubu explained that their collaboration continued after she became First Lady, despite the Renewed Hope Initiative not receiving direct government funding.
She said Abdullahi subsequently partnered with the initiative to provide ICT training for young Nigerians and support the establishment of ICT centres in communities.
The First Lady expressed gratitude for his continued support, noting that the collaboration had helped expand access to digital skills and technology opportunities among young people.
Addressing Nigeria’s Japanese partners, she said, “You have shown that true friendship between nations is measured by the opportunities it creates for the next generation.”
She concluded by formally laying the foundation stone of the Renewed Hope Startup Hub in Wuye, Abuja, expressing hope that the facility would contribute to the empowerment, prosperity and technological advancement of Nigerian youths.
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