The Federal Government has intensified its push to tackle poverty and youth unemployment, taking its National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS) to Oyo, Enugu and Kebbi states, with 1,200 young Nigerians set to benefit from practical skills training.

The initiative, being implemented by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Technical, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Education (OSSAP-TVEE), is a key component of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the Federal Government’s target of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty within 10 years.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on TVEE, Dr. Abiola Arogundade, said the programme was driven by a belief in the capacity of Nigerian youths to transform the country’s economic fortunes.

According to her, “Nigerian youths are not the problem; they are the solution” to many of the challenges confronting the nation.

The NPRGS gained momentum following its pilot programme in Abuja, launched on June 30, 2025, where participants underwent intensive training in cybersecurity, web development and solar energy installation.

Arogundade described the Abuja pilot as a success, saying participants who initially approached the programme with uncertainty eventually acquired practical, marketable skills and were able to build their first websites while learning the fundamentals of digital security.

The level of interest was also significant. More than 7,000 applications were reportedly received for the Abuja programme, underscoring the appetite among young Nigerians for opportunities that can translate into employment and income.

Building on that response, the Federal Government is now taking the programme to the geopolitical zones, with 200 trainees to be selected in each participating state for intensive 10-day to two-week training sessions.

The courses are being tailored to local economic opportunities, market demand and the interests of the beneficiaries.

In Oyo State, training begins on September 28, 2026, and will run for two weeks, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Beneficiaries will be trained in Graphics/Artificial Intelligence (AI) Design, Makeup and Fashion Designing.

Enugu State will offer training in Makeup, Solar Energy Installation and Fashion Designing, with the solar component covering panel installation, maintenance and off-grid solutions.

In Kebbi State, trainees will learn Graphics/AI Design, Fashion Designing and Agriculture, with the agricultural track focusing on yoghurt production, dairy processing, packaging and small-scale agribusiness.

Also, beneficiaries will receive complete starter kits to enable them to begin applying their skills immediately after the programme.

Graphics/AI trainees will receive laptops, makeup trainees will receive fully equipped makeup kits, fashion trainees will receive sewing machines and starter kits, while those trained in yoghurt production will receive fermentation kits.

The approach, according to OSSAP-TVEE, is designed to bridge the gap between acquiring skills and earning a livelihood, while encouraging entrepreneurship and self-reliance among young Nigerians.

Arogundade called on state governments, traditional rulers, community leaders and private-sector organisations to partner with the Federal Government as the programme expands to more states.

According to her, the programme is aimed at reducing unemployment and underemployment, expanding opportunities for young people and contributing to the Federal Government’s broader poverty-reduction agenda.