IBADAN, NIGERIA — The Federal Government, through the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy, is set to empower 700 youths in Oyo State with practical and marketable skills in vocational and digital trades, as part of efforts to reduce unemployment and poverty in the country.
The training, which will run from September 28 to October 9, 2026, is being organised by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Technical, Vocational, and Entrepreneurship Education. According to Abiola Arogundade, the SSA to the President on TVEE, the programme is designed to equip young people with the skills they need to become self-employed or to find employment in high-demand sectors.
“The NPRGS training is part of President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to reducing poverty and creating opportunities for young Nigerians. We are targeting 700 youths in Oyo State, and we will be providing them with training in various vocational and digital skills that are in high demand in the economy,” Arogundade stated.
The training will cover a range of trades, including fashion design, catering, solar installation, plumbing, electrical work, digital marketing, graphic design, web development, and data analysis. Participants will also receive training in entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and business management to enable them to start and manage their own businesses.
“We are not just training them in skills; we are also equipping them with the knowledge and tools they need to succeed as entrepreneurs. We want them to be able to create jobs, not just seek jobs,” Arogundade said.
The SSA said the training would be conducted in partnership with the Oyo State Government, the Industrial Training Fund, and other stakeholders. She said participants would be selected from across the 33 local government areas of the state, with a focus on vulnerable groups, including women, persons with disabilities, and youths from low-income households.
“We are working with the Oyo State Government and other partners to ensure that the selection process is transparent and that the training reaches those who need it most. We are targeting women, persons with disabilities, and youths from low-income backgrounds,” she said.
Arogundade said the training would be practical and hands-on, with participants spending most of their time in workshops and laboratories. She said the government had provided modern equipment and tools to ensure that participants received high-quality training that would prepare them for the job market.
“We have invested in modern equipment and tools to ensure that our training is world-class. Participants will have the opportunity to work with the same tools and equipment that they will use in the real world,” she said.
At the end of the training, participants will receive certificates and starter packs to enable them to start their own businesses or to seek employment. The government will also link them to financial institutions and business development service providers to help them access funding and other support.
“We are not just training them; we are also providing them with the support they need to start their own businesses. We will link them to financial institutions and business development services so that they can access the funding and support they need to succeed,” Arogundade said.
The SSA said the NPRGS training would be extended to other states across the country, with the goal of training thousands of young Nigerians over the next three years. She urged eligible youths in Oyo State to take advantage of the opportunity and to register for the training.
“This is a great opportunity for our young people to acquire skills that will change their lives. I urge all eligible youths in Oyo State to register and to participate in this training. It is free, and it will open doors of opportunity for you,” she said.
The Oyo State Government has welcomed the initiative, describing it as a timely intervention that will complement the state’s efforts to reduce unemployment and poverty. The Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mr. Wasilat Adegoke, said the state would provide all necessary support to ensure the success of the training.
“We are grateful to the Federal Government for this initiative. It will complement our efforts to empower our young people and to reduce unemployment in the state. We will provide all necessary support to ensure that the training is successful,” Adegoke said.
As the training kicks off on September 28, expectations are high that it will provide participants with the skills and tools they need to transform their lives and to contribute to the growth of the economy. For now, the message from the Federal Government is clear: it is committed to empowering young Nigerians and to reducing poverty through skills development.
