About 641 teenagers participated in a technical and vocational education and training teens programme in Abuja on Wednesday, 12 August, 2026, gaining exposure to 20 different skills through a combination of digital, creative and hands-on vocational sessions.
The training, organised by Olivehill Development Initiative (ODI) in collaboration with TOM Camp Outreach Ministries, was held at Government Science Secondary School, Maitama, opposite Maitama General Hospital.
Participants were introduced to skills including Mobile Cinematography, Introduction to Cybersecurity, Coding, and Graphics Design, alongside practical sessions in areas such as fascinator making, bead making, hand fan making, soap making, scented candle making, shoe making and crocheting, among others.
The practical sessions gave participants the opportunity to work directly with materials as they learnt each skill. Rather than being limited to demonstrations or classroom instruction, the teenagers were able to practise selected skills during the training and gain an early understanding of how the skills could be applied.
The sessions covered a range of digital, creative and vocational areas, from technology and media to craft and production based activities.
The training reflects the growing role of technical and vocational education in creating pathways for young people to acquire practical skills alongside formal education in Nigeria.
For the teenagers who took part, the sessions offered an opportunity to explore skills outside their regular school curriculum and interact with areas of work they may not ordinarily encounter in the classroom.
One participant said, “I didn’t know how to go about learning cybersecurity, but through this training, I learnt how to protect systems and now I know the path I would love to take in cybersecurity. Thank you to Olivehill Development Initiative. I hope you can come again sometime.”
The training marks the second consecutive year of collaboration between Olivehill Development Initiative and TOM Camp to expose teenagers to practical and vocational skills.
Speaking on the continued partnership, ODI’s Chief Operating Officer, Idara Umana, said the organisation was pleased to build on the previous year’s engagement.
“We are grateful to be collaborating with TOM Camp for a second year to create opportunities like this for young people. We believe education should not only prepare young people to pass examinations, but should also give them the confidence and practical skills to create, solve problems and contribute meaningfully to society. When a young person is exposed to a skill and given the opportunity to practise it, we are not simply teaching them something new; we are expanding what they can imagine for their future.”
Mr Victor Ajibolu, TOM CAMP representative, said, “This training for teenagers is a nudge in the right direction. It is not only positioning them to compete in the economic world, but also to become pacesetters who can proffer solutions and think creatively using the skills they have been equipped with. We are grateful to be collaborating with Olivehill on this for a second time.”
The day brought together teenagers for hands-on learning across digital, creative and vocational areas, giving participants an opportunity to explore new interests and begin developing skills they can build on beyond the training.
The training also coincided with International Youth Day, offering a timely reminder of the importance of giving young people opportunities to learn, create and explore possibilities for their future.
Olivehill Development Initiative (ODI) is a Lagos-based non-profit organisation dedicated to improving lives through community-focused interventions across healthcare access, education, and youth empowerment. Through strategic partnerships and volunteer-driven programmes, ODI works to deliver measurable impact in underserved communities across Nigeria.