The Nigerian Government says it plans to lift five million youths out of poverty through skills acquisition and empowerment programmes aimed at promoting sustainable livelihoods.
The initiative, being implemented under the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS), is designed to equip young Nigerians with practical, market-relevant skills to enhance their economic independence and employability.
Senior Assistant to the President on Technical, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Education (OSSAP-TVEE) and coordinator of the programme, Dr Abiola Arogundade made this known in Ibadan, at the commencement of the programme’s Oyo State phase, which runs from September 28 to October 9.
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She said the training was part of President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to empowering Nigerians through technical, vocational and entrepreneurial education.
According to her, the programme, which commenced in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), had moved to Oyo State and would be extended to other states and geopolitical zones across the country.
Under the Oyo State phase, 200 young Nigerians are being trained in graphics and artificial intelligence (AI), makeup artistry and fashion designing.
Of the beneficiaries, 30 participants are undergoing training in graphics and AI, while 85 each are receiving training in makeup artistry and fashion designing.
Beyond Skills Acquisition
Arogundade said the initiative went beyond skills acquisition, as beneficiaries would be connected to organisations and business opportunities to support their transition into sustainable livelihoods.
She said 500 tablets would also be distributed during the programme’s grand finale as part of the digital empowerment drive.
“So, with this programme, we are training 200 people. We will also be distributing 500 tablets during the grand finale of the programme as part of the Nigerian Government’s digital empowerment drive.
“We are directly empowering 700 people in this programme and there will be a multiplier effect.
“We are not just training them for themselves, but we are training them for their communities, for the population and for all the states in Nigeria,” the cordinator explained.
She urged participants to take the training seriously, maximise the opportunity and use their newly acquired skills to empower others in their communities.
Arogundade reiterated government’s commitment to creating opportunities for young Nigerians to become economically self-reliant through practical training and entrepreneurship development.
Earlier, the keynote speaker for the graphics and AI training, Mrs Oluronke Shonubi, said the growing adoption of artificial intelligence presented Nigeria with opportunities to accelerate development, improve employability and prepare young people for emerging jobs.
One of the beneficiaries, Idowu Olalere, a 400-level student of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), expressed appreciation to the government for providing young Nigerians with opportunities to acquire emerging digital skills.
Olalere said the training would help bridge the gap between existing skills and evolving labour market requirements.
Two other beneficiaries, Mrs Iyabo Ajayi, a makeup trainee, and Fatunbi Joshua, a fashion designing trainee, also expressed gratitude for the opportunity.
Reduce Unemployment
They expressed optimism that the initiative would contribute to reducing unemployment by equipping participants with practical skills and opportunities for self-employment.
At the conclusion of the training, participants will receive laptops, sewing machines and fully equipped makeup kits to support their entrepreneurial pursuits and facilitate the establishment of sustainable businesses.
The programme forms part of the government’s broader efforts to promote inclusive economic growth, reduce poverty and expand opportunities for young Nigerians through technical and vocational education.
