The presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Engr. Seyi Makinde, has announced plans to train one million Nigerian youths in employable skills, promising to prioritize job creation, entrepreneurship, and economic expansion if elected president in 2027. This initiative is part of his campaign manifesto, which will be unveiled on November 4, 2026, following consultations with stakeholders across the country's six geopolitical zones. Makinde's administration's policies will be shaped by citizens' needs rather than developed in isolation.
The Oyo State governor explained that the consultations had taken the campaign team through the North-East, North-West, North-Central, South-South, and South-West before its arrival in the South-East. The proposed Reset Nigeria agenda will be built around four major pillars: resetting the economy, restructuring the security architecture, reforming the education system, and resetting the socio-political space. Addressing the trust deficit between government and citizens will be central to the program, with sincerity and honesty in governance being key.
Makinde cited his experience in Oyo State, where public confidence in government had improved, and added that he intended to replicate the achievement at the national level if elected president. He urged Nigerians to reject religious and ethnic divisions, stressing that hunger, poverty, and insecurity affect citizens regardless of their backgrounds. Creating economic opportunities for young people is essential to moving Nigerians from poverty to prosperity.
As part of the employment initiative, Makinde said his campaign had partnered with Skill Reset Nigeria, through SkillReset.com, to train one million young Nigerians in skills that could improve their chances of securing employment. He encouraged young people to register for the program and take advantage of the proposed training opportunities. The APM candidate also promised to address the challenges confronting manufacturers and entrepreneurs, particularly high borrowing costs and limited availability of long-term financing.
Makinde argued that interest rates of about 25 percent and the dominance of short-term credit facilities restrict businesses' capacity to expand production, despite the South-East's reputation for trade and manufacturing. His administration would create a more conducive business environment, promote entrepreneurship, and expand opportunities for sustainable job creation. Nigeria needs to move beyond an economic model heavily dependent on sharing federal allocations and instead focus on expanding productive activities capable of generating wealth and employment.
The APM candidate questioned the Federal Government's continued borrowing despite reported increases in foreign reserves and tax collections, calling for greater transparency about the country's economic position. On the forthcoming election, he urged supporters not to be discouraged by the destruction of campaign posters and billboards, calling on them to protect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and participate in the electoral process.
The APM national chairman, Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, called for a change in the country's political direction, arguing that economic growth depends on private-sector productivity, reliable energy supply, and efficient transportation. He linked insecurity, including kidnapping, banditry, and insurgency, to deeper socioeconomic problems that require comprehensive solutions. Dantalle appealed to President Tinubu to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race and support Makinde.
Key points
- One million Nigerian youths will be trained in employable skills.
- Makinde's Reset Nigeria agenda has four major pillars.
- The APM candidate urges Nigerians to reject ethnic and religious divisions.
