FG Reaffirms Pledge To Pull Nigerians Out Of Poverty

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to lifting five million Nigerians out of poverty over the next four years, following the successful completion of a 10-day vocational training and empowerment programme for 700 youths in Oyo State.

The graduation ceremony, held on Friday, October 9, 2026, at the Kensington Adebutu Hall, University of Ibadan, marked the conclusion of the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS) training, which began on September 28.

The initiative, coordinated by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Technical, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Education (OSSAP-TVEE), is designed to promote economic self-reliance through skills acquisition, entrepreneurship development and digital inclusion.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on TVEE, Dr. Abiola Arogundade, said the programme underscored President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to creating sustainable economic opportunities rather than relying solely on direct financial assistance.

“What we want to do, and what the President wants to do, is to move as many people out of poverty as possible,” Arogundade said in a statement from her media office.

“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 explained that 30 participants received specialised training in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and graphics design, while 85 participants each underwent training in makeup artistry and fashion design.

The remaining 500 beneficiaries were provided with digital devices to enable them to participate in the expanding digital economy.

The empowerment package included laptops, makeup kits, sewing machines and digital tablets, tailored to the vocational and entrepreneurial needs of the beneficiaries.

Arogundade urged the graduates to apply the skills acquired during the training to establish sustainable businesses and create opportunities for others in their communities.

“What you receive today is not the destination. It is the beginning. Take the skills you have learnt. Take the tools you have received, and build something with them,” she said.

She emphasised the importance of extending the programme’s benefits beyond the direct beneficiaries by sharing acquired knowledge and mentoring others.

“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,” she added.

Earlier, Arogundade led a delegation on a courtesy visit to the palace of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, who commended the Federal Government’s focus on grassroots empowerment.

The monarch described the initiative as a significant intervention in efforts to address youth unemployment and reduce poverty, while encouraging other public officials to support similar programmes.

“It’s a very good initiative, and we are very proud of Arogundade,” Ladoja said.

He expressed optimism that sustained investment in vocational training and economic empowerment would help improve livelihoods and strengthen communities.

Resource persons at the 10-day workshop also highlighted the relevance of the training to emerging employment opportunities and changing demands in the global labour market.

The keynote speaker and Principal Consultant, Mrs. Oluronke Shonubi, said introducing young Nigerians to artificial intelligence would help prepare them for technological changes reshaping industries worldwide.

She noted that countries such as the United States and China were investing heavily in AI applications across sectors, including manufacturing, agriculture and automobile production.

Shonubi commended the government for exposing participants to the responsible and ethical use of AI, noting that the knowledge could expand their career prospects and entrepreneurial opportunities.

Similarly, Rukayat Muhammad, a vocational instructor who facilitated the makeup artistry programme, described the profession as a viable source of income for individuals willing to develop their skills and market their services effectively.

“Makeup artistry remains a marketable vocation, and beneficiaries can build successful businesses if they develop their skills and effectively market themselves,” Muhammad said.

She encouraged the beneficiaries to treat the equipment provided as business assets that could support their financial independence and long-term economic stability.

One of the beneficiaries, Olaleye Idowu, a 400-level International Relations student at the Federal University Oye-Ekiti, praised the Federal Government for providing an opportunity to acquire digital skills through the AI and graphics design track.

Idowu said the training introduced participants to the fundamentals of artificial intelligence, its practical applications and its potential to improve workplace efficiency.

“The training introduced us to the fundamentals of AI, its applications, and its potential to make work more efficient,” he said.

He expressed confidence that the knowledge gained would support his ambition to become a professional AI prompt engineer within five years, adding that he intended to train and employ others as his career developed.

The ceremony attracted political figures and other stakeholders, including an All Progressives Congress (APC) Oyo State governorship hopeful, Senator Alli Sharafadeen Abiodun, and his deputy, Hon. Michael Adesoji Adedeji.

Others in attendance included the senator representing Oyo Central, Senator Yunus Abiodun Akintunde; Oyo State APC Women Leader and Tinubu Torch Bearers coordinator, Dr. Adekemi Felicia Opatunde; and Southwest Federal Constituency coordinator, Hon. Folake Olunloyo-Oshinowo.

Following an initial pilot phase in Abuja and the completion of the Oyo State programme, OSSAP-TVEE announced plans to extend the NPRGS initiative to other geopolitical zones across the country.

The nationwide rollout is expected to accommodate 1,200 participants per phase, with vocational training tailored to the economic needs and opportunities of different regions.

The Federal Government’s poverty reduction strategy is expected to rely on skills development, entrepreneurship and access to relevant tools to help beneficiaries establish sustainable livelihoods, create jobs and contribute to economic growth.

The programme forms part of the administration’s broader commitment to moving five million Nigerians out of poverty over the next four years.