The wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu is set to empower about 5000 people under the Progressives United Against Poverty Initiative, a partnership championed by the Anambra State Government in support of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Economic Support Scheme of the President’s wife.

During the visit in a week’s time. Tinubu”s wife will equally launch the South-East Community Food Bank Programme aimed at expanding the reach of federal interventions targeted at vulnerable households across the region

The visit in a week’s time, according to a press statement by media aide to the Statement Governor, Daniel Ezeigwe, is to further advance programmes aimed at poverty reduction, economic empowerment, food security and improved livelihoods for vulnerable citizens.

The statement said the empowerment programme was designed to provide beneficiaries with practical economic support and opportunities to improve their livelihoods, with particular attention to individuals and households requiring assistance to become more economically productive and self-reliant.

According to the statement, the programme is part of efforts under the Renewed Hope Initiative to strengthen food security and provide targeted support to vulnerable households, particularly amid growing concerns over hunger, food affordability and nutrition.

This came as the Worldwide Organisation of Women (WOW) empowered about 1000 students from ten schools across the State at its 5th edition of leadership development programme held at ASUBEB headquarters, Awka, the State capital.

The programme was inspired by the growing concerns about the future of Nigeria and the commitment of the WOW Founder/CEO, Chief Mrs Carol Ugochukwu, and the Executive Director, Attorney Amaka Ada Akudinobi, to raise a new generation of transformational leaders.
In her speech, the South-East Coordinator of WOW Africa, Mrs Ethel Eruchalu, said the theme, “Lead the Shift: Youth Driving Change in an Evolving World.” inspired by the concern of the organisation’s founder, Chief Mrs Carol Ugochukwu, about the future of Nigeria and the need to provide young people with the right orientation and skills to prepare them for the challenges ahead.

Eruchalu observed that the quality of questions asked by the students during the programme showed that they were keeping pace with developments in Artificial Intelligence and other emerging technologies.

She pointed out that there’s a need to continually train young ones on acquisition of knowledge and skills of computer and AI with integrity and values so they can maximise the digital tools towards driving Africa’s digital transformation.

In a Keynote Address, an Information technology expert, Dr. Godspower Ifeanyi Akawu said he mainly teaches young ones computer skills and AI to enable them be equipped and abreast of opportunities to enhance their professional, technological and academic impartation.

Akawu who is the founder of Frank Power Tech Limited, promoters of Frank Power Academy advocated for indigenous technology to ginger young ones to fit into global competitiveness as leading change agents without exposing them to tech addiction, and announced training/scholarship awards to 60 students selected across the State..

In her presentation on the topic: “Think Global, Act Nigerian: Preparing to Compete on the World Stage,” the WOW Africa’s Director of Media, Dr. Ify Aronu noted that for any prospective aspirant for presence on the world stage, “you must first know who you are.”.

Aronu who is a communication expert and public speaking coach noted that the Mawlif Think Possible philosophy begins with two powerful commitments of Mindful Self-Discovery of knowing what one’s gift and grounding and the Conscious, Intentional Personal Development,

She advised on the need for one to read widely, learn new skills, develop communication, build digital competence, improve emotional intelligence, learn to work with people , be disciplined with your time, seek mentors, and keep learning, even when no one is watching.

Dr. Aronu clarified that to think global “means exposing yourself to world-class ideas, standards and possibilities. “Acting Nigerian means using your knowledge, creativity and competence to solve problems and create value from where you are.”

Presenting a paper entitled: “Character Building and Personal Development in a Changing World,” His Worship, Magistrate Ujuaku Miriam Elendu noted that character, regardless of educational attainment, has a great asset and determines how far one can go in life.

Magistrate Elendu observed that good character has reflected on such virtues as honesty, standing by undiluted truth, empathy, in integrity, self control, integrity.discipline, godly act, good morals, purpose, cohabitation with others, responsibility, humility, and resilience.

In his own presentation, founder of Creative Tech Paschal Okeke in his paper on Thriving in an Era of AI, dwelt on consistent and active leveraging on social media and integrated artificial intelligence (AI) into its leadership initiatives to empower women and youth for self-reliance and national development .
The highpoint of the event provided an opportunity for an interactive session between the resource persons and students from the schools who shared their relative universal experiences and thoughts in the changing domains of the home, school, church, community, culture, occupation/career and media.
Some of the students appreciated WOW Africa for providing the forum, an enabling environment, imparting more knowledge, making their vision clearer and giving them the inspiration to know who we are.

They also appreciated the takeaway of being empathic, choosing role models, inspiring a spirit of “I can do it in them” becoming servant-leaders, impacting on others, and bringing out a better version of them in order to make a better Nigeria interactive session with some of the students.

Participants at the interactive WOW Africa computer skills sets and AI-focussed empowerment initiative for secondary school students in Anambra State.