NITDA Trains Reps Spouses, As Abbas’ Wife Harps on Mental Health, Emotional Balance

The National Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in conjunction with HORSA Monday began a two-day workshop in Abuja for spouses of members of the House of Representatives on “Empowering women for the digital future: Leadership, wellbeing and opportunity”.

In her remarks at the opening session, wife of the speaker, Hajia Fatima Tajudeen Abbas said as partners to lawmakers, they need a balanced mental health and emotional resilience.

She said, “There are expectations to meet, schedules to manage and public perceptions to navigate. As spouses, we are often confidantes and encouragers. We provide stability behind the scenes.

“Yet we, too, need strength. We, too, need tools to manage stress and sustain well-being. Recognising mental health as a component of leadership is a mark of maturity, not weakness.

“The focus on mental health and emotional resilience is equally important. Public life often involves invisible emotional labour”, she stressed.

According to her, “The role of the Speaker demands resilience. It demands patience. It demands the ability to listen, even in moments of disagreement.

“As spouses, we witness this up close. We see the sacrifices that public service requires. We also share in them. That is why this Association is so important.

“The House of Representatives Spouses Association is more than a social body. It is a community of women who understand the unique pressures of public life. Visibility brings honour, but it also brings scrutiny. Influence creates opportunity, but it also comes with responsibility.

“In today’s world, these realities are amplified by technology. As highlighted in the programme outline, public exposure now extends beyond physical spaces into digital platforms. Social media, messaging applications and emerging technologies have transformed how we communicate and how we are perceived.

“A single post can travel far beyond its original intent. Misinformation spreads quickly. Children are increasingly exposed to online risks.

“That is why sessions on digital and financial literacy, digital wellbeing and cyber protection are so essential. We cannot afford to be passive users of technology.

“We must understand digital footprints, privacy controls and responsible engagement. We must equip ourselves with the knowledge to protect our families and guide others wisely.

“I am also pleased that this programme addresses entrepreneurship, financial confidence and opportunities in the digital economy.

“Women across Nigeria face barriers to economic participation, yet we know that when women are economically empowered, families and communities benefit”.

In his remarks, the Chief of Staff to the President and former Speaker of the 9th House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, described the spouses of lawmakers as strategic actors in Nigeria’s governance ecosystem, noting that public service extends far beyond elected office. He said they occupy a uniquely influential space that blends moral authority, community trust and quiet but powerful diplomacy.

Gbajabiamila stated that as confidants, advisers and stabilisers, legislators’ spouses often serve as indispensable bridges between institutions and citizens, between conflict and peace, and between promises and reality. According to him, their interventions in areas such as women empowerment, youth development, health advocacy and education are not peripheral to governance but essential pillars of national development.

He commended the leadership of Hajiya Fatima Abbas Tajuddeen for demonstrating foresight and patriotism in prioritising digital capacity building through the partnership with NITDA, describing the initiative as both timely and strategic in an era defined by rapid technological transformation.

The Chief of Staff emphasised that digital capability now defines competitiveness, stressing that technology is no longer an auxiliary tool but the very infrastructure upon which modern economies, institutions and social systems are built. He noted that influence today is increasingly exercised through digital platforms, data-driven engagement and innovation.

Gbajabiamila further explained that the training aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s broader vision of economic revitalisation and digital transformation, particularly through initiatives such as the 3 Million Technical Talent Programme (3MTT), which aims to equip Nigerians with globally competitive digital skills.

He encouraged the spouses to approach the workshop not merely as a training session but as a strategic empowerment platform that would strengthen their leadership capacity, sharpen their institutional voice and position them as catalysts for digital awareness and opportunity within their constituencies, adding that nation-building remains a collective responsibility.