FG to Train, Equip 200 Oyo Youths with Vocational and AI Skills
The Federal Government has announced plans to empower 200 youths in Oyo State with marketable vocational skills and business start-up tools under the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS).
The intensive training initiative, scheduled to run from September 28 to October 9, 2026, is being organized under the auspices of the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Technical, Vocational, and Entrepreneurship Education (OSSAP-TVEE).
According to an official statement released on Tuesday by Dr. Abiola Arogundade, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on TVEE, the Oyo State phase marks the beginning of a broader national rollout. The empowerment scheme will eventually be replicated across all six geopolitical zones to expand sustainable livelihood opportunities and technical training for young Nigerians.
The programme features three specialized training tracks tailored to contemporary market demands: Graphics/Artificial Intelligence (AI), Makeup, and Fashion Designing.
To bridge the gap between training and immediate entrepreneurship, the federal government will provide each participant with a complete enterprise starter pack upon completion. Beneficiaries in the Graphics/AI track will receive laptops, while those in the Makeup and Fashion Designing streams will be equipped with fully loaded makeup kits and sewing machines, respectively.
The two-week programme will culminate in a graduation ceremony and grand finale on October 9, 2026. As part of a wider national digital empowerment drive, the presidency also disclosed that 500 digital tablets will be distributed to youth attendees during the closing ceremony.
Dr. Arogundade emphasized that the initiative underscores the administration’s firm commitment to utilizing skills acquisition and entrepreneurship as vital pathways toward boosting economic participation, reducing youth unemployment, and improving livelihoods across the federation.
