Tinubu moves to tackle poverty, unemployment as fed govt empowers 700 in Oyo

The Federal Government has empowered 700 youths in Oyo State with vocational and digital skills, providing them with start-up kits to establish businesses and become economically self-reliant as part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s efforts to tackle poverty and unemployment across the country.

The beneficiaries, who graduated from a 10-day intensive training programme under the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS), were equipped with practical, market-relevant skills designed to enhance their employability, encourage entrepreneurship and create sustainable sources of income.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony in Ibadan on Friday, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Technical, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Education (TVEE), Dr. Abiola Arogundade, said the initiative reflected Tinubu’s determination to bridge Nigeria’s skills gap and create economic opportunities for young Nigerians.

Arogundade explained that the programme was part of the administration’s broader strategy to reduce poverty through human capital development, vocational training and entrepreneurship, rather than leaving young Nigerians dependent on increasingly limited conventional employment opportunities.

According to her, the 700 beneficiaries included 30 participants trained in artificial intelligence (AI) and graphics, 85 in makeup artistry, 85 in fashion design and another 500 in various digital economy-related skills.

She explained that the programme was deliberately structured to equip participants with skills relevant to emerging economic opportunities while enabling them to establish businesses and generate sustainable livelihoods.

“This project is very dear to my heart because I come from Aremo, Ibadan.

“But it is also very dear to the heart and vision of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose determination to close Nigeria’s skills gap is a major driver of the mandate we have been given”, she said.

Arogundade maintained that the President believed Nigeria’s young population represented an enormous economic asset that could be harnessed through deliberate investments in technical education, vocational skills and entrepreneurial development.

She said the administration was determined to ensure young Nigerians acquired the knowledge, practical skills, and tools needed to compete in the evolving economy and achieve financial independence.

The presidential aide urged government institutions, private sector operators, community leaders, and other stakeholders to support programmes that equip young people with productive skills and create pathways out of poverty.

She also encouraged the beneficiaries to put their newly acquired knowledge and equipment to productive use, stressing that the ultimate objective of the programme was to transform participants from job seekers into employers of labour and contributors to economic development.

Speaking at the ceremony, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, representing Oyo South Senatorial District, commended the Federal Government for the intervention, describing skills acquisition and economic empowerment as important instruments for tackling poverty and unemployment.

Alli said the initiative would contribute significantly to poverty reduction not only in Oyo State but across the federation, especially if beneficiaries successfully turn their newly acquired skills into productive businesses.

He noted that the Tinubu administration had introduced various measures to cushion the economic impact of removing the petrol subsidy, adding that the vocational empowerment programme demonstrated the government’s commitment to giving Nigerians opportunities for economic independence.

Also speaking, Senator Yunus Akintunde, representing Oyo Central Senatorial District, praised Arogundade for facilitating the programme and extending its benefits to hundreds of young people in the state.

Akintunde urged the beneficiaries to preserve the equipment and start-up kits provided by the Federal Government, warning against allowing the opportunity to go to waste.

He encouraged them to use the equipment to establish viable enterprises, develop their entrepreneurial potential, and improve their economic circumstances.

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, represented by Shola Ladoja, also commended the presidential aide and the Federal Government for extending the initiative to the state.

The traditional ruler expressed optimism that the programme would help address poverty and unemployment, particularly among young people, by equipping them with practical skills for self-reliance.

He described investments in vocational education and entrepreneurship as important steps toward improving livelihoods and promoting grassroots economic development.

The graduation ceremony attracted youths, traditional rulers, political leaders, representatives of non-governmental organisations, entrepreneurs and academics, who witnessed the presentation of certificates and empowerment materials to the beneficiaries.

At the end of the programme, all 700 participants received certificates and start-up kits to help them transition from training to self-employment and sustainable economic activities.

The Oyo State intervention forms part of the Federal Government’s ongoing implementation of the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy, which seeks to address poverty through targeted economic empowerment, skills development and improved livelihood opportunities.

The programme, coordinated by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Technical, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Education, supports the Tinubu administration’s objective of building a more productive workforce and expanding opportunities for young Nigerians to participate meaningfully in the economy.

Abuja doctor reveals a unique way to permanently cure weak erection, small and shameful manhood, and infertility issues without side effects within a short period. Click now to see!!

🩺 Healthcare is now just a click away! Connect with healthcare professionals from anywhere with DesolNetwork Telemedicine. 👉 Register now & learn more: https://desolnetwork.com

Stay informed and ahead of the curve! Follow The Nation Newspaper on WhatsApp for real-time updates, breaking news, and exclusive content. Don’t miss a headline — join now!