The Federal Government of Nigeria has launched an initiative to lift five million young Nigerians out of poverty through skills acquisition and empowerment programmes. This programme, part of the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS), aims to equip beneficiaries with practical, market-relevant skills and provide support to enable them to become economically independent. The initiative was announced by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Technical, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Education, Dr Abiola Arogundade.
The programme has commenced with a pilot in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and has now moved to Oyo State, with plans to extend to other states and geopolitical zones. In Oyo State, 200 young Nigerians are being trained in Graphics and Artificial Intelligence (AI), makeup artistry, and fashion designing. The training, which runs from September 28 to October 9, has 30 participants in Graphics and AI, and 85 participants in makeup artistry and fashion design.
According to Dr Arogundade, the government's intervention will not end with training; beneficiaries will also be linked with organisations and business opportunities to help them translate their newly acquired skills into sustainable sources of income. The government will distribute 500 tablets during the grand finale of the programme as part of its digital empowerment drive. A total of 700 people will be directly empowered through this programme, with a multiplier effect expected.
Dr Arogundade urged the beneficiaries to maximise the opportunity by taking the training seriously and using the knowledge and tools provided to create businesses and transfer skills to others in their communities. She encouraged them to know that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is thinking about all Nigerians, particularly young Nigerians, and is ready to address their plights.
Keynote speaker for the Graphics and AI training, Mrs Oluronke Shonubi, noted that the growing adoption of artificial intelligence offers Nigeria an opportunity to accelerate development, strengthen employability, and prepare its young population for emerging jobs. Beneficiaries, including Idowu Olalere, a 400-level student of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), expressed optimism that the initiative would help young Nigerians bridge the gap between their existing abilities and the changing requirements of the labour market.
Other beneficiaries, such as Mrs Iyabo Ajayi and Fatunbi Joshua, also expressed optimism that the initiative would help reduce unemployment by providing participants with practical skills for self-employment. At the end of the programme, beneficiaries will receive start-up tools, including laptops for Graphics and AI trainees, sewing machines for fashion designers, and fully equipped makeup kits for those trained in makeup artistry.
The intervention forms part of the Federal Government's broader NPRGS programme aimed at reducing poverty, promoting inclusive economic growth, and expanding opportunities for young Nigerians through technical, vocational, and entrepreneurship education. The programme targets creating pathways for young Nigerians to achieve economic self-reliance through practical training, entrepreneurship, and access to productive tools.
Key points
- The Federal Government aims to lift 5 million young Nigerians out of poverty through skills acquisition and empowerment programmes.
- The programme has commenced with a pilot in the FCT and has now moved to Oyo State, with plans to extend to other states and geopolitical zones.
- Beneficiaries will receive start-up tools, including laptops, sewing machines, and fully equipped makeup kits, to help them translate their newly acquired skills into sustainable sources of income.
