The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has inaugurated a N1 billion Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Experience Centre at Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado-Ekiti, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen digital education and equip Nigerian youths with future-ready technological skills.

The facility, established through the Renewed Hope Initiative in partnership with the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), is designed to enhance digital learning, research, innovation, and technology-driven education within the university.

Speaking during the inauguration ceremony on Saturday, Senator Tinubu described the project as a strategic investment aimed at preparing young Nigerians for a rapidly evolving global economy driven by technology and artificial intelligence.

According to her, the ICT Experience Centre will provide students with access to modern digital tools and learning platforms that will improve academic excellence, encourage innovation, and foster entrepreneurship.

“This partnership with TETFund under the Renewed Hope Initiative is designed to improve educational opportunities and equip young Nigerians with relevant digital skills for the future,” she stated.

The First Lady also assured residents of Ekiti State that additional developmental interventions covering sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, and economic empowerment would be extended to the state.

The event attracted several dignitaries, including the wife of the Vice President, Hajia Nana Shettima; Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim; Senate Leader, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele; Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji; and his wife, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji, among other government officials, lawmakers, and political stakeholders.

In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of EKSU, Professor Joseph Babatola Ayodele, described the ICT Experience Centre as a transformative project that would significantly improve teaching, learning, research, and innovation within the institution.

He noted that the facility represents a major milestone in the university’s efforts to align with global technological advancements and create greater opportunities for students and researchers in the digital era.

Ayodele commended Senator Tinubu for facilitating the project and expressed appreciation to Governor Oyebanji, his wife, and TETFund for their support towards the institution’s growth and development.

Providing insight into the project, a representative of TETFund, Hon. Sunday Adepoju, disclosed that EKSU was among six universities selected across the nation’s six geo-political zones to benefit from the 2024 ICT Experience Centre intervention programme.

He explained that the facility, valued at over N1 billion, is equipped with advanced digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence tools designed to expose students to emerging technologies and improve their competitiveness in the global knowledge economy.

Adepoju added that the intervention reflects TETFund’s commitment to supporting the Federal Government’s agenda of modernising tertiary education through technology-driven initiatives.

Also speaking, the Chancellor of EKSU, Dr. Tunji Olowolafe, praised the First Lady for facilitating what he described as a landmark intervention that would positively impact generations of students.

He said the centre would not only improve digital literacy but also strengthen research capacity, drive innovation, and provide students with practical skills needed to thrive in an increasingly technology-driven world.

The inauguration of the ICT Experience Centre is widely regarded as a significant boost to EKSU’s digital transformation agenda and a reflection of the Federal Government’s commitment to leveraging technology and artificial intelligence to improve the quality and relevance of higher education in Nigeria.