IBADAN, OYO STATE – The Federal Government has commenced another phase of its National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRDS) training and empowerment programme in Oyo State, with a target of helping five million Nigerians move out of poverty through skills acquisition, technology and entrepreneurship.

Speaking on Monday at the NPRDS programme in Ibadan, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Technical, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Education (TVEE), Dr. Abiola Arogundade, said the initiative was designed to equip Nigerians with practical skills while connecting beneficiaries to opportunities that can enable them to earn sustainable incomes.

According to her, the programme, which commenced in the Federal Capital Territory and is now being taken to different states, is part of the Federal Government’s broader effort to reduce poverty and expand economic opportunities for Nigerians.

“What we want to do, and what the President wants to do, is to move as many people out of poverty as possible,” Arogundade said.

She explained that the programme goes beyond training, as beneficiaries are also introduced to organisations and business opportunities that could help them begin earning a living immediately after completing their training.

Arogundade disclosed that 200 people are being trained in Oyo State, while 500 devices are being provided, representing a direct empowerment of 700 people under the current intervention.

She, however, stressed that the expected impact extends beyond the immediate beneficiaries through what she described as a multiplier effect, urging participants to share their knowledge with people in their communities.

The Presidential aide said the national target is to move five million people out of poverty within the next four years, noting that the implementation involves various government offices and ministries working across different states.

The training itself lasts 10 days, running from Monday September 28 to Friday October 9, 2026, while the broader national poverty-reduction effort is expected to continue across the country.

Arogundade urged beneficiaries to take the training seriously, attend all sessions and continuously upgrade their skills.

She said participants should see themselves not merely as beneficiaries but as potential agents of change who can train others and contribute to poverty reduction within their communities.

“Don’t use it as a one-man solution or one-man empowerment. There’s a multiplier effect. Train your neighbours, train your community people, and also continue to impact and learn more,” she advised.

AI Training to Bridge Skills Gap

The programme also featured training in artificial intelligence (AI), with principal consultant for P4 Change Consultants and keynote speaker, Mrs. Oluronke Shonubi, stressing the growing importance of AI skills in today’s global economy.

Shonubi said countries such as the United States and China were investing heavily in AI across sectors including manufacturing, agriculture and the automobile industry, making initiatives that expose Nigerian youths to AI particularly relevant.

She commended the Federal Government for investing in the upskilling of young Nigerians, particularly in the responsible and ethical use of AI.

According to her, the beneficiaries should be able to apply their new knowledge to their careers, develop portfolios and establish businesses or improve their employability.

She noted that AI skills could provide beneficiaries with opportunities for self-employment while also making them more competitive in the labour market.

Shonubi called for the sustainability and expansion of AI training and awareness programmes, noting that many Nigerians were still unfamiliar with what AI means and how it can responsibly be applied.

She advocated more training, awareness and investment in AI as Nigeria responds to the rapid technological changes taking place globally.

Beneficiary Targets AI Career

One of the beneficiaries, Olaleye Idowu, a graphic designer and 400-level International Relations student of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti, described the programme as an opportunity to upgrade his skills and provide greater value to his clients.

Idowu said the first day’s training had introduced participants to the fundamentals of AI, including its applications, benefits and potential to make work more efficient.

He said he had previously intended to move fully into the technology sector and regarded the programme as an opportunity to begin building the skills needed for the emerging AI-driven economy.

The beneficiary expressed appreciation to the Federal Government, saying the programme could help address the gap between the skills possessed by young people and those increasingly demanded by today’s labour market.

Looking ahead five years, Idowu said he expected to become a professional AI prompt engineer and pledged to train and employ others as he develops his career.

85 Makeup Artists to Be Trained

The empowerment programme is also providing participants with practical vocational skills, including makeup artistry.

A makeup artist and CEO of Chuchu’s Glamour, Rukayat Muhammad, who is serving as a trainer, said participants were being introduced to makeup techniques, products, sanitation and the fundamentals of professional makeup artistry.

Rukayat disclosed that 85 participants are expected to graduate as certified makeup artists from the training.

She said the beneficiaries would also receive equipment and products to support their practice, adding that consistent practice would help them develop into competent professionals capable of earning a livelihood from the skill.

According to her, makeup artistry remains a marketable vocation, and beneficiaries can build successful businesses if they develop their skills and effectively market themselves.

She urged participants to pay close attention to every training session and approach the programme with the mindset that the knowledge and skills acquired are investments in their own futures.

Rukayat also commended the Federal Government, the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on TVEE and other officials involved in the initiative for supporting the programme.

She disclosed that the national programme would continue in other states, with applications for subsequent training programmes made available online.

She noted that different states would have different skill areas based on the needs and structure of their respective programmes.

The Ibadan phase of the NPRDS intervention therefore brings together technology, vocational training and entrepreneurship as part of the Federal Government’s strategy to equip Nigerians with skills capable of translating into employment, self-employment and sustainable livelihoods.

The ultimate objective of the programme remains to create a multiplier effect in communities by ensuring that beneficiaries do not only acquire skills for themselves but also use their knowledge and opportunities to empower others.