In an effort to expand economic opportunities and foster self-reliance, 700 participants in Oyo State have completed an intensive 10-day vocational workshop sponsored by the Federal Government, reflecting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ongoing agenda for youth capacity building.
Dr. Abiola Arogundade, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Technical, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Education (TVEE), announced the milestone during Friday’s graduation event in Ibadan. Carried out under the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS), the initiative aims to furnish citizens with practical, market-ready capabilities to unlock long-term financial independence.
According to Arogundade, the cohort featured 500 trainees in digital economy disciplines, 85 in fashion design, 85 in professional makeup artistry, and 30 in artificial intelligence alongside visual design. She emphasized that the intervention reflects the administration’s broader mission to bridge critical technical deficits and position young Nigerians to thrive in competitive modern industries.
Reflecting on her personal ties to Ibadan as an Aremo native, the presidential aide reiterated that Tinubu’s vision centers on giving youth the instruments, platforms, and expertise required to build sustainable careers and enterprises.
Delivering remarks at the event, Senator Sharafadeen Alli of Oyo South noted that the intervention serves as a valuable tool for curbing unemployment nationwide while cushioning the socio-economic adjustments tied to the termination of the petrol subsidy.
Echoing these sentiments, Oyo Central Senator Yunus Akintunde commended Arogundade’s stewardship and advised the graduates to safeguard and fully utilize their assigned equipment. The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, represented by Shola Ladoja, also lauded the initiative, expressing optimism about its potential to alleviate poverty across the state.
Attended by community leaders, traditional figures, entrepreneurs, academics, and civic groups, the ceremony concluded with the presentation of completion certificates and enterprise starter kits to help each graduate transition smoothly into self-employment.