By Nathan Yohanna
IBADAN, October 10, 2026 — Artificial intelligence, graphics, fashion design and digital economy skills are opening new possibilities for hundreds of Nigerians as 700 beneficiaries graduated from a Federal Government vocational training programme in Oyo State, strengthening efforts to tackle unemployment and promote economic independence.
The 10-day programme, organised under the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS), concluded with a graduation ceremony in Ibadan on Friday, October 9, 2026. Each beneficiary received a certificate and a start-up kit to support the transition from training to self-employment.
The initiative reflects President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to technical, vocational and entrepreneurship education as a pathway to closing Nigeria’s skills gap and helping young people participate in the changing economy.
Dr Abiola Arogundade, the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Technical, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Education (TVEE), said the programme was designed to give participants relevant skills, improve their employability and help them establish sustainable livelihoods.
The training covered four areas, with 500 participants trained in digital economy-related skills, 85 in makeup artistry, 85 in fashion design and 30 in artificial intelligence and graphics.
The figures highlight the programme’s emphasis on digital and technology-related opportunities, alongside practical creative trades that can support small businesses and self-employment.
Arogundade said Tinubu believed young Nigerians needed opportunities, relevant skills and the necessary tools to compete effectively and achieve economic independence. She urged stakeholders to support similar initiatives that create pathways to sustainable livelihoods.
She also described the programme as personally significant because she comes from Aremo in Ibadan, noting that the President’s determination to address the country’s skills gap was central to the initiative.
Political leaders at the ceremony linked the training to broader efforts to address poverty and unemployment. Senator Sharafadeen Alli, representing Oyo South Senatorial District and the APC governorship candidate in Oyo State, said the initiative could contribute to poverty reduction across the state and the country.
Alli added that the Tinubu administration had introduced measures to cushion the effects of petrol subsidy removal, describing the empowerment programme as part of efforts to address economic hardship.
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Senator Yunus Akintunde, representing Oyo Central Senatorial District, praised Arogundade for facilitating the programme and encouraged the graduates to make productive use of their equipment.
The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, represented by Shola Ladoja, also commended the Federal Government and expressed hope that the initiative would improve livelihoods and reduce poverty.
The ceremony brought together young people, nongovernmental organisations, traditional rulers, entrepreneurs, politicians and academics, reflecting the range of stakeholders involved in skills development and community advancement.
With certificates and start-up kits in hand, the graduates now have an opportunity to turn their training into income-generating activities. However, the programme’s longer-term impact will depend on how effectively they apply their skills, access customers and sustain their businesses.
The initiative underscores a central lesson for Nigeria’s employment challenge: vocational training can create stronger opportunities when practical education is accompanied by the equipment needed to put new skills to work.