Government

 IBADAN, NIGERIA — The Federal Government has officially rolled out an expanded phase of its National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS), setting an ambitious target to lift five million Nigerians out of poverty over the next four years through sustainable skills acquisition and entrepreneurship.

The initiative kicked off its regional push in Ibadan, Oyo State, where 700 young Nigerians graduated from an intensive 12-day vocational and digital training program running from September 28 to October 9, 2026.

Moving From Relief to Opportunity

Speaking at the graduation ceremony held at the University of Ibadan’s Kensington Adebutu Hall, Dr. Abiola Arogundade, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Technical, Vocational, and Entrepreneurship Education (SSAP-TVEE), emphasized a decisive shift in national policy:

What the President wants to do is move as many people out of poverty as possible. Mr. President believes that our young people do not simply need assistance—they need opportunity, skills, and the tools to compete and build sustainable livelihoods."

To ensure immediate market entry, beneficiaries were equipped with enterprise starter kits and digital hardware tailored to their tracks:

Artificial Intelligence & Graphics Design (30 Graduates): Issued high-performance laptops and specialized software tools.

Make-up Artistry (85 Graduates): Received professional, fully equipped beauty kits.

Fashion Design (85 Graduates): Received industrial and standard sewing machines.

Digital Economy Track (500 Beneficiaries): Provided with digital tablets to facilitate remote work, freelancing, and digital skill expansion.

The Strategic Shift: Future-Proofing Nigeria’s Youth

A key highlight of the Oyo training phase was its focus on cutting-edge technical skills, particularly Artificial Intelligence.

Keynote speaker and principal consultant Mrs. Oluronke Shonubi noted that integrating AI training into youth empowerment aligns Nigeria with global economic powerhouses like the United States and China, where AI continues to transform sectors from manufacturing to agriculture.

Olaleye Idowu, an International Relations student at the Federal University Oye-Ekiti and one of the AI track graduates, shared his experience:

The training introduced us to the fundamentals of AI, its real-world applications, and how it can be leveraged to streamline work and boost efficiency in today's economy."

Driving the Multiplier Effect

Addressing the graduates, key leaders urged participants to treat their starter equipment not as personal gifts, but as seed capital designed to stimulate local economies.

Dr. Abiola Arogundade called on graduates to pay it forward: "What you receive today is the beginning. Don’t treat this as a one-man solution. Train your neighbours, empower your community, and create a multiplier effect."

Sharafadeen Alli, APC Governorship Candidate in Oyo State, urged participants to turn their new competencies into job-creating enterprises, stating that sustainable employment remains the most effective tool to combat systemic poverty.

Rukayat Muhammad, lead instructor in make-up artistry, emphasized that vocational skills, when combined with strong personal branding and digital marketing, offer a direct path to financial independence.

The event gathered prominent leaders and stakeholders, including Senator Yunus Akintunde (Oyo Central), Oyo State APC Women Leader Dr. Adekemi Opatunde, and South-West Federal Constituency Coordinator Hon. Folake Olunloyo-Oshinowo.

Shift to Sustainable Growth: Moves away from direct financial aid toward skills-based economic self-reliance.

Bridging the Digital Divide: Integrates future-ready skills (AI, graphic design, digital tools) alongside traditional vocational trades.

Scalable Impact: Sets a blueprint for nationwide deployment aiming at 5 million beneficiaries across Nigeria by 2030.