NITDA, HORSA Empower Lawmakers’ Spouses with Digital Skills to Drive Nigeria’s Transformation
In a strategic move to deepen Nigeria’s digital transformation, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), in partnership with the House of Representatives Spouses Association (HORSA), has organised a two-day digital literacy and capacity-building workshop for spouses of members of the House of Representatives.
Themed “Empowering Women for a Digital Future: Leadership, Wellbeing, and Opportunity,” the initiative aims to equip lawmakers’ spouses with practical skills to navigate the digital economy and the demands of public life.
The workshop goes beyond basic computer training, offering modules on financial and digital literacy, cybersecurity and digital wellbeing, as well as economic empowerment through opportunities in remote work, Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) and digital entrepreneurship.
Declaring the programme open on behalf of the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, said the initiative recognises the vital role spouses play as trusted advisers to public office holders. He noted that strengthening their digital and leadership capacity would enhance their support for lawmakers and improve overall effectiveness.
Kalu added that many spouses already lead humanitarian and community development initiatives, stressing that improved digital skills would enhance communication, strategic planning and resource mobilisation for greater national impact.
In his address, NITDA Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa, said the programme aligns with the Federal Government’s digital economy agenda under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He disclosed that NITDA is pursuing a National Digital Literacy Framework targeting 95 per cent digital literacy by 2030 through education integration, public sector upskilling and community inclusion.
Inuwa emphasised that women are central to Nigeria’s digital transformation, noting that empowering lawmakers’ spouses would positively influence leadership and legislative processes. He added that thousands of public servants are already enrolled in NITDA’s digital programmes, while community champions are expanding digital skills training nationwide.
In her goodwill message, HORSA leader and wife of the Speaker, Fatima Tajudeen Abbas, described the workshop as a milestone for the 10th Assembly. She said the training—covering digital literacy, mental health, leadership and entrepreneurship—would strengthen families, support lawmakers behind the scenes and enable women to contribute more meaningfully to national development in the digital age.
