Federal Gov’t Flags Off Skills-to-Wealth Training For Youths To Alleviate Poverty

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, has flagged off federal government’s Skills-to-Wealth Training programme (S2W).

The Minister said the S2W training programme was organised by his ministry to train Nigerian youths in Agriculture, Renewable Energy, Automobile repairs and maintenance in the six geo-political zones of the country.

“This initiative is not just a policy intervention, it is the embodiment of the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Under his leadership, we are shifting from promises to tangible progress. We are moving from poverty alleviation to poverty reduction.

“The Skills-to-Wealth Programme is one of the many arrows in our quiver aimed at tackling youth unemployment, building resilience, and transforming lives,” the minister said at Oshodi, Lagos State.

Professor Yilwatda charged the trainees to take the training programme seriously, adding, “Don’t waste a single hour. Ask questions, practice daily. Build your confidence, this is your starting line. Don’t look back!”

The minister expressed the government’s appreciation to CIG MOTORS for providing their contributions to the programme, providing technical training support and modern auto diagnostic tools for automobile track. “This is the power of partnership. What government starts, the private sector can scale. What we plant, others can help grow,” he said, according to a statement that was issued by the director of information and public relations in the ministry, Iliya Rhoda Ishaku.

He urged the private sector to open their doors and offer internships to the young people. He called on donor partners to join government to scale the initiative to 10,000 more youths.

Also, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Yakubu Adam Kofarmata, said the training programme was designed to serve as a catalyst for transformation, particularly for the youths, women and vulnerable groups. “By focusing on high-impact sectors like agriculture, Renewable Energy and the automobile industry, we are not only preparing our citizens for the jobs of today, but positioning them as drivers of innovation and enterprise in the Nigerian of tomorrow,” Dr Kofarmata said.

He acknowledged the collaborative effort by the Ministry and private sector towards the success of the programme.

Dr Kofarmata urged the beneficiaries to see the training as the beginning of their journey towards economic independence.

The chairman of CIG MOTORS, Diana Chen, represented by her special adviser on government relations, Chukwu Emeka Fidelis Udaya, commended the ministry for initiating the S2W training programme. He said the CIG MOTORS is partnering with the Ministry in automobile repairs and maintenance for trainees across the six geo-political zones of Nigeria, a direct investment to skill the future of Nigerian youths.

According to Chief Chen, in the past 10 years, CIG has localised operations investing directly in Nigerian automotive future, empowered Nigerian talents through skill development and training and building strategic partnership that strengthens the economy.