By Ademola Ajao
THE Federal Government has empowered 700 youths in Oyo State with vocational skills, digital devices and business starter kits under its National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS), as part of efforts to tackle unemployment and lift millions of Nigerians out of poverty.
The 10-day training and empowerment programme culminated in a graduation ceremony held on Friday, October 9, 2026, at Kensington Adebutu Hall, University of Ibadan.
The exercise commenced on September 28.
Managed by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Technical, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Education (OSSAP-TVEE), the initiative forms part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision to lift five million Nigerians out of poverty over the next four years.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Technical, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Education, Dr Abiola Arogundade, said the Federal Government was committed to replacing temporary financial assistance with sustainable skills development and economic self-reliance.
“What we want to do, and what the President wants to do, is to move as many people out of poverty as possible,” Arogundade said.
“Mr President believes that our young people do not simply need assistance. They need opportunity. They need skills. They need the tools to compete and build sustainable livelihoods. And that is what today represents.”
Providing details of the intervention, Arogundade disclosed that 30 participants received specialised training in artificial intelligence (AI) and graphic design, while 85 participants each were trained in make-up artistry and fashion design.
Another 500 participants received digital devices to facilitate their entry into the expanding digital economy.
The beneficiaries also received practical tools to support their respective trades and entrepreneurial pursuits, including laptops, make-up kits, sewing machines and digital tablets.
Urging the graduates to use their newly acquired skills to create opportunities for others, Arogundade said the programme was designed to produce benefits beyond the individual participants.
“What you receive today is not the destination. It is the beginning. Take the skills you have learnt. Take the tools you have received, and build something with them.
“Don’t use it as a one-man solution or one-man empowerment. There’s a multiplier effect. Train your neighbours, train your community people, and also continue to impact and learn more,” she said.
Olubadan Commends Federal Government
Ahead of the graduation ceremony, Arogundade led a delegation on a courtesy visit to the palace of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja.
The monarch commended the Federal Government for focusing on grassroots empowerment, describing the NPRGS initiative as a significant intervention in addressing youth unemployment and poverty.
“It’s a very good initiative, and we are very proud of Arogundade,” Ladoja said.
“I would also like to encourage many people in her position to emulate her, because this will go a long way in empowering people and reducing poverty in our society.”
Experts Highlight Relevance of Training
Resource persons at the 10-day programme highlighted the importance of equipping young Nigerians with skills that reflect changing labour market demands.
The keynote speaker and Principal Consultant, Mrs Oluronke Shonubi, said exposing young people to artificial intelligence would help position Nigeria to benefit from technological advancements shaping the global economy.
She cited the United States and China as examples of countries investing heavily in AI applications across sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture and the automobile industry.
Shonubi commended the Federal Government for introducing young Nigerians to AI and encouraging its responsible use, noting that the knowledge could broaden their career options and entrepreneurial prospects.
Similarly, Rukayat Muhammad, a vocational instructor who led the make-up artistry training, highlighted the commercial opportunities available to participants who put their newly acquired skills to productive use.
“Make-up artistry remains a marketable vocation, and beneficiaries can build successful businesses if they develop their skills and effectively market themselves,” she said.
Muhammad advised the participants to regard the equipment provided by the government as investments in their professional development and financial independence.
Beneficiaries Express Optimism
Some of the beneficiaries expressed optimism that the training would improve their career prospects and enable them to contribute to economic development.
Olaleye Idowu, a 400-level International Relations student at the Federal University Oye-Ekiti, who completed the AI and graphic design training, commended the Federal Government for addressing the skills gap among young Nigerians.
“The training introduced us to the fundamentals of AI, its applications, and its potential to make work more efficient,” Idowu said.
He expressed the ambition to become a professional AI prompt engineer within five years and pledged to train and employ others as his career progressed.
“In five years, I expect to become a professional AI prompt engineer, and I pledge to train and employ others as I develop my career,” he added.
Political Leaders Attend Graduation
The closing ceremony attracted several political figures and stakeholders, including Senator Alli Sharafadeen Abiodun, an All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship hopeful in Oyo State, and his deputy, Hon Michael Adesoji Adedeji.
Others were the Senator representing Oyo Central, Senator Yunus Abiodun Akintunde; the Oyo State APC Women Leader and Tinubu Torch Bearers coordinator, Dr Adekemi Felicia Opatunde; and the South-West Federal Constituency coordinator, Hon Folake Olunloyo-Oshinowo.
Following the initial pilot phase in Abuja and the completion of the Oyo State exercise, OSSAP-TVEE announced that the nationwide rollout of the NPRGS programme would continue across other geopolitical zones.
The office said subsequent phases would target 1,200 participants each, with vocational training tailored to the specific needs and economic opportunities of the respective regions.
The initiative is expected to contribute to the Federal Government’s broader poverty reduction efforts by equipping young Nigerians with practical skills, tools and opportunities to establish businesses, secure employment and support others in their communities.
