FG partners states, traditional rulers to train 100m youths in AI design, makeup, fashion

From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja

The Federal Government has revealed that it would partner state governments, traditional rulers, community leaders, and the private sector in training over 100 million Nigerian youths across the country on Graphics and Artificial Intelligence (AI) design, makeup, and fashion designing.

The FG, through the Office of the Technical, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Education (OSSAP-TVEE), promised to also provide the beneficiaries with training and start-up requirements.

Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President in charge of the department, Abiola Arogundade, in a statement he issued in Abuja on Thursday, described the programme as a central pillar of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda

He explained that it is a confirmation that President Tinubu holds Nigerian youths as assets and solution not the problem facing the country.

He announced that the continued rollout of the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS), a FG flagship initiative aimed at lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty within 10 years, is targeted at economic growth and social protection.

While commending the pilot edition held in Abuja with 7,000 youth beneficiaries, Arogundade, in the statement, noted that the NPRGS will train 1,200 youths as part of the expansion across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones, with each zone hosting 200 trainees in 10-day to two-week training sessions.

He described the phase as a resounding success, noting that participants who arrived skeptical left with practical, marketable skills, having built their first websites and gained an understanding of digital security fundamentals.

“The NPRGS launched its pioneer cohort in Abuja on June 30, 2025, with an intensive 10-day training programme in cybersecurity and web development, alongside a solar energy installation upscaling track.

“Graduates received laptops and certificates of completion. The Abuja phase alone drew over 7,000 applications, highlighting strong public demand for the programme.

“Building on the momentum from Abuja, the NPRGS is expanding across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones, with each zone hosting 200 trainees in 10-day to two-week training sessions. Skills offered in each state are selected based on local market demand, relevance, and trainee preferences.

“In total, 1,200 Nigerian youths will benefit from this initial phase of the programme nationwide. Oyo State (South West Zone): Training will be on September 28, 2026, running daily for two weeks. Trainees are learning Graphics/AI design, makeup, fashion designing. Each participant will receive a complete training kit during the programme, which they will take home upon completion.

“This includes laptops for Graphics/AI trainees, fully equipped kits for makeup trainees, sewing machines and starter kits for fashion designing trainees, and fermentation kits for Agriculture (Yoghurt Making) trainees.

“The programme’s core objectives are to:

Equip Nigerian youths with practical, marketable skills, reduce unemployment and underemployment, promote entrepreneurship and self-reliance, advance the national goal of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty within 10 years.

“OSSAP-TVEE is calling on state governments, traditional rulers, community leaders, and the private sector to partner with the Federal Government as the programme expands to additional states across the country,” he noted.