First Lady Tinubu to Commission Fedpoly Oko ICT Centre, Launch Food Bank in Southeast

By Praise Chinecherem

Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, will on Thursday visit Anambra State for a series of engagements, including the commissioning of a new ICT Centre at the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, and the launch of the National Community Food Bank Programme for the Southeast.

The visit is expected to spotlight efforts by the Federal Government and the Anambra State Government to expand digital skills, support vulnerable households and empower young people and entrepreneurs across the state.

Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Value Reorientation, Dr Law Mefor, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, outlining the programmes lined up for the First Lady’s visit.

According to Mefor, the ICT Centre at the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, is designed to help bridge the digital skills gap by providing students from Anambra and other parts of the Southeast with access to training in software development, data analysis, digital marketing and other emerging areas of the future of work.

He said the facility would create opportunities for young people to acquire globally relevant digital skills and improve their competitiveness in the evolving economy.

“The modern facility is designed to close the digital skills gap and provide opportunities for students from Anambra and across the Southeast to be trained in software development, data analysis, digital marketing, the future of work and other emerging digital skills,” Mefor said.

Another major highlight of the visit will be the launch of the National Community Food Bank Programme – Southeast Zone, scheduled to take place at the Old Government House, Amawbia.

Mefor described the initiative as part of the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive development under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

He said the programme would specifically target widows, elderly persons, persons living with disabilities and other vulnerable families.

“The launch of the National Community Food Bank Programme in the Southeast is a direct intervention for widows, the elderly, persons with disabilities and vulnerable families,” he said.

According to the Commissioner, beneficiaries will receive food items and nutrition education, alongside agricultural support aimed at strengthening household livelihoods.

The First Lady will also flag off the Statewide Empowerment Programme initiated by the Anambra State First Lady, Mrs Nonye Soludo, at the Ekwueme Square, Awka.

The programme is expected to benefit 5,000 people across Anambra’s 21 Local Government Areas, with beneficiaries receiving business grants, vocational tools and equipment for agriculture and agro-processing, beauty care and other small-scale enterprises.

Mefor said the empowerment initiative, driven by Mrs Nonye Soludo, would be formally flagged off by Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

He described the First Lady’s visit as an opportunity to strengthen collaboration between the Federal and Anambra State governments in advancing economic empowerment and social intervention programmes.

“Anambra State, the ‘Light of the Nation,’ welcomes this partnership with the Federal Government. The visit affirms that no state or zone is left behind in the Renewed Hope Agenda,” Mefor said.

He added:

“Ndi Anambra warmly welcome you, Mother of the Nation.”

The visit is expected to draw stakeholders from the education, technology, humanitarian and entrepreneurship sectors as Anambra hosts the First Lady for the series of engagements.

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