The federal government has concluded a 10-day skills training and empowerment programme in Oyo State under its National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS), graduating 700 young Nigerians with vocational training, digital tools, and business starter kits. The initiative, managed by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Technical, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Education (OSSAP-TVEE), aligns with President Bola Tinubu's broader plan to lift five million Nigerians out of poverty within four years.
Training and Tools Distribution
The closing ceremony took place on Friday, October 9, 2026, at the Kensington Adebutu Hall, University of Ibadan, with the programme having begun on September 28. Of the 700 beneficiaries, 30 received instruction in Artificial Intelligence and Graphic Design, 85 in Makeup Artistry, and 85 in Fashion Design. The remaining 500 were equipped with digital devices to support their entry into the digital economy. Physical tools distributed included laptops, sewing machines, makeup sets, and digital tablets.
Dr Abiola Arogundade, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on TVEE, told graduates that the government's goal is economic self-reliance rather than dependency on handouts. "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," she said.
Olubadan Hails Initiative
She urged participants to extend the impact beyond themselves. "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," Dr. Arogundade added. Before the ceremony, Dr Arogundade led a delegation to the palace of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, who welcomed the scheme and praised its grassroots approach. "It's a very good initiative, and we are very proud of Arogundade," the monarch said, calling on others in similar positions to follow her example.
Keynote speaker and Principal Consultant Mrs Oluronke Shonubi linked the AI curriculum to shifts already reshaping global economies, noting that the United States and China are investing heavily in artificial intelligence across manufacturing, agriculture, and the automobile sector.
Beneficiary and Political Support
One beneficiary, Olaleye Idowu, a 400-level International Relations student at the Federal University Oye-Ekiti, said the training opened his eyes to AI's practical uses. "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 said. Senior political figures at the ceremony included APC Oyo State governorship hopeful Senator Alli Sharafadeen Abiodun, Senator Yunus Abiodun Akintunde of Oyo Central, and Southwest Federal Constituency coordinator Hon. Folake Olunloyo-Oshinowo.
Following the Oyo phase, OSSAP-TVEE said the NPRGS rollout will continue across Nigeria's six geopolitical zones, targeting 1,200 participants per phase with region-specific vocational content.
