The federal government of Nigeria has launched an initiative to lift five million young Nigerians out of poverty through skills acquisition and empowerment programmes. The programme, implemented under the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS), aims to equip beneficiaries with practical, market-relevant skills and provide support to help them become economically independent. This initiative is part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's drive to tackle poverty and unemployment by expanding access to technical, vocational and entrepreneurial education across the country.
The programme commenced with a pilot in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and has now moved to Oyo State, where 200 young Nigerians are undergoing training in Graphics and Artificial Intelligence (AI), makeup artistry, and fashion design. The training, which runs from September 28 to October 9, is being conducted by experts in the respective fields. Of the 200 beneficiaries participating in the Oyo programme, 30 are being trained in Graphics and AI, while 85 participants are undergoing training in makeup artistry and fashion designing.
According to Dr Abiola Arogundade, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Technical, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Education, the government's intervention would not end with training. Beneficiaries would also be linked with organisations and business opportunities to help them translate their newly acquired skills into sustainable sources of income. The government will also distribute 500 tablets during the grand finale of the programme as part of the Federal Government's digital empowerment drive.
The programme is expected to have a multiplier effect, empowering not just the beneficiaries but also their communities. 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 reiterated the administration's commitment to creating pathways for young Nigerians to achieve economic self-reliance through practical training, entrepreneurship and access to productive tools.
Keynote speaker for the Graphics and AI training, Mrs Oluronke Shonubi, noted that the growing adoption of artificial intelligence offered Nigeria an opportunity to accelerate development, strengthen employability and prepare its young population for emerging jobs. One beneficiary, Idowu Olalere, a 400-level student at the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), said the programme would help young Nigerians bridge the gap between their existing abilities and the changing requirements of the labour market.
Other beneficiaries, Mrs Iyabo Ajayi, who is undergoing makeup training, and Fatunbi Joshua, a fashion design trainee, 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, which aims to reduce poverty, promote inclusive economic growth, and expand opportunities for young Nigerians through technical, vocational, and entrepreneurship education. The programme will subsequently be extended to other states and geopolitical zones.
Key points
- The federal government targets five million Nigerians for poverty exit through skills acquisition.
- The programme will equip beneficiaries with practical, market-relevant skills and provide support to help them become economically independent.
- Beneficiaries will receive start-up tools, including laptops, sewing machines, and makeup kits.
