FG expands poverty reduction programme to Oyo, Enugu, Kebbi

The Federal Government has announced the expansion of the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS) to Oyo, Enugu, and Kebbi states, marking the latest phase of the flagship initiative designed to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty over a decade through targeted economic growth and social protection.

Dr. Abiola Arogundade, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Technical, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Education (OSSAP-TVEE), stated that the program forms a core pillar of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which positions Nigerian youth as key drivers of national solutions rather than the country’s problems.

The initiative first launched its pioneer cohort in Abuja on June 30, 2025, featuring an intensive 10-day training program in cybersecurity, web development, and solar energy installation.

Following over 7,000 applications in Abuja, graduates received laptops and certificates after successfully building websites and grasping digital security fundamentals.

Capitalizing on this momentum, the NPRGS is now scaling up across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones, providing 10-day to two-week training sessions tailored to local market demands, relevance, and participant preferences. A total of 1,200 young Nigerians are targeted for this initial nationwide phase, with 200 trainees hosted per zone.

In the South West zone, Oyo State will commence training on September 28, 2026, running daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for two weeks, focusing on graphics and Artificial Intelligence (AI) design, makeup, and fashion designing.

Meanwhile, Enugu State, serving as the South East training hub, is offering instruction in makeup, solar energy installation covering panel setup, maintenance, and off-grid solutions and fashion design.

Rounding out the current phase, Kebbi State in the North West zone is providing specialized training in graphics and AI design, fashion design, and agricultural dairy processing focused on yoghurt making, packaging, and small-scale agribusiness.

Participants in every track will receive complete starter kits to take home upon completion, including laptops for graphics and AI trainees, fully equipped makeup kits, sewing machines and starter gear for fashion designers, and fermentation kits for the agricultural yoghurt-making cohort.

The core objectives of the program are to equip youths with practical, marketable skills, reduce unemployment and underemployment, foster entrepreneurship and self-reliance, and advance the national goal of poverty reduction.

OSSAP-TVEE has called on state governments, traditional rulers, community leaders, and the private sector to forge partnerships with the Federal Government as the outreach extends to more states.