The Federal Government, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has selected 200 young Nigerians in Oyo State for a two-week hands-on training programme covering graphics and artificial intelligence design, makeup, and fashion designing. The training, scheduled to begin on September 28, 2026, is part of the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS) and is being implemented by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Technical, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Education (OSSAP-TVEE).
Training Details and Schedule
According to a statement made available to Legit.ng on Thursday, September 24, 2026, the sessions in Oyo State will run daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for the duration of the programme. The training is designed to equip participants with skills that translate directly into economic opportunity, as part of the administration's broader goal to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty within a decade.
Dr Abiola Arogundade, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Technical, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Education, described the NPRGS as central to the Renewed Hope Agenda. She emphasised that youths must be viewed as drivers of national development, not dependants.
Expansion After Successful Abuja Pilot
The Oyo rollout follows a successful pilot in Abuja, launched on June 30, 2025, where participants received training in cybersecurity, web development, and solar energy installation. That pilot attracted more than 7,000 applications, and many of those who completed it built their first websites and gained foundational knowledge in digital security. Graduates left with laptops and certificates of completion.
With the Abuja pilot concluded, the Federal Government is now extending the programme to all six geopolitical zones, with 200 participants earmarked per zone in the first phase, bringing the initial nationwide total to 1,200 beneficiaries. The training areas in each state are being chosen based on local market demand and participant preferences.
Starter Kits for Participants
Beyond classroom instruction, each Oyo State participant will leave with a starter kit tied to their chosen track. Graphics and AI design trainees will receive laptops, while those on the makeup track will be given fully equipped kits. Fashion design participants will take home sewing machines and starter materials, and those on the agriculture track, covering yoghurt-making, will receive fermentation kits.
OSSAP-TVEE said the overall aim is to cut unemployment and underemployment by giving young Nigerians tools for self-employment and income generation. The office called on state governments, traditional rulers, community leaders, and private-sector organisations to support the expansion and help create conditions where graduates of the programme can put their new skills to work in local economies.
Broader Poverty Reduction Efforts
In a related development, Legit.ng reported that Abubakar Bagudu said about 10 million Nigerians would benefit from federal poverty-reduction programmes. The Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme targets all 8,809 wards nationwide. The government emphasised collaboration with grassroots leaders to achieve inclusive growth.
