FG targets five million Nigerians for poverty exit, empowers 700 Oyo youths with skills

‎According to a report by Vanguard News on October 8, 2026, the Federal Government has set a target of lifting five million Nigerians out of poverty within four years, as 700 youths in Oyo State completed training in artificial intelligence (AI), graphics design and vocational skills.

‎‎The training was organised through the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Technical, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Education (OSSAP-TVEE) as part of efforts to tackle unemployment and equip young Nigerians with skills for employment and business development.

‎The programme, which began on September 28 and ended on October 9, 2026, concluded with a graduation ceremony at Kensington Adebutu Hall, University of Ibadan. Participants also received equipment and digital devices to help them apply their newly acquired skills.

‎‎Speaking at the event, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Technical, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Education, Dr Abiola Arogundade, said the initiative was designed to give young people opportunities to earn a living rather than depend solely on government assistance.

‎‎According to her, the Federal Government wants beneficiaries to acquire practical skills and the resources needed to establish businesses and achieve financial independence.

‎‎Under the Oyo State programme, 30 participants received training in AI and graphics design, while 85 were trained in make-up artistry and another 85 in fashion design. The remaining 500 participants received digital devices to support their involvement in the digital economy.

‎‎The equipment distributed included laptops, make-up kits, sewing machines and digital tablets, depending on each beneficiary’s area of training.

‎‎Arogundade urged the graduates to make productive use of the resources provided and share their knowledge with others in their communities. She said the success of the initiative would depend on how well participants translated their training into sustainable sources of income.

‎The government plans to extend the programme to other geopolitical zones after its initial implementation in Abuja and Oyo State. According to OSSAP-TVEE, subsequent phases are expected to accommodate 1,200 participants each, with training adapted to the needs of different regions.

‎‎The keynote speaker, Mrs Oluronke Shonubi, a principal consultant, highlighted the growing importance of AI, noting that countries such as the United States and China were investing in the technology across sectors including agriculture, manufacturing and automobile production.

‎‎She commended the government for introducing young Nigerians to AI and its ethical application, saying the knowledge could expand their career options and create opportunities for entrepreneurship.

‎‎Similarly, make-up artistry instructor Rukayat Muhammad said beneficiaries could achieve financial independence if they developed their skills and marketed their services effectively.

‎‎The APC governorship candidate in Oyo State, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, also encouraged the graduates to use the training and equipment to establish businesses and create jobs for others.

‎‎He said the impact of the initiative should be measured by the number of people whose lives improve as beneficiaries put their skills to use.

‎‎One of the trainees, Olaleye Idowu, a 400-level International Relations student at the Federal University Oye-Ekiti, said the AI and graphics design training introduced him to the fundamentals of the technology and its practical applications.

‎‎Idowu said he hoped to become a professional AI prompt engineer within five years and pledged to train and employ others as his career progressed.

‎‎Before the graduation ceremony, Arogundade led a presidential delegation on a courtesy visit to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja.

‎‎The monarch welcomed the initiative, describing it as a positive step towards empowering young people and reducing poverty at the grassroots. He also encouraged others in similar public positions to support programmes that equip people with practical skills and opportunities to earn a living.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2026/10/fg-targets-five-million-nigerians-for-poverty-exit/amp/

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