FG Graduates 150 Enugu Youths in AI, Solar Installation, Fashion Design
Beneficiaries receive start-up equipment, employment linkages to promote entrepreneurship, economic independence
ENUGU, November 9, 2026
The Federal Government has graduated 150 youths in Enugu State from a vocational training programme covering Artificial Intelligence (AI), graphics design, solar installation and fashion design, as part of efforts to tackle unemployment, promote entrepreneurship and strengthen economic inclusion.
The initiative, implemented under the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS), was coordinated by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Technical, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Education (OSSAP-TVEE).
The graduation ceremony, held on Friday in Enugu, followed an intensive 10-day training programme. In addition to acquiring practical skills, the beneficiaries received start-up equipment, including laptops, semi-industrial sewing machines and solar installation tools, to enable them to establish businesses and pursue self-employment opportunities.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Technical, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Education, Dr Abiola Arogundade, represented by the Head of Strategy and Methodology in her office, Dr Abiola Isikalu, said the programme aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and commitment to poverty reduction through skills acquisition and human capital development.
She explained that the initiative was designed to go beyond training and certification by providing beneficiaries with the necessary start-up tools and connecting them with industry professionals for potential employment opportunities.
Arogundade noted that the programme was already generating positive outcomes, citing instances of previous beneficiaries who had shared their newly acquired knowledge with younger siblings and other members of their communities. She also recalled the experience of a former participant who established a studio and began training other youths six months after completing a similar programme.
She urged the graduates to put their equipment to productive use, apply their newly acquired skills and become agents of economic transformation within their communities.
Also speaking, the Enugu State Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mr Chris-Roberts Ozongwu, congratulated the beneficiaries, describing the graduation as the beginning of new opportunities for employment, innovation and enterprise development.
Ozongwu emphasised that investment in human capital was critical to sustainable economic growth, urging the graduates to look beyond paid employment and explore entrepreneurship as a pathway to financial independence and job creation.
The Director of Studies, Enugu Business School, Prof. Fred Eze, commended the Federal Government for prioritising youth development, noting that the initiative complemented the Enugu State Government’s Smart Schools programme and broader efforts to promote practical education and entrepreneurial skills.
Some of the beneficiaries, including Ogechi Agbo, Chukwuebuka Onoh and Chibuike Ozoani, expressed appreciation to the Federal Government and programme facilitators for providing them with the opportunity to acquire relevant and marketable skills.
The presentation of certificates and distribution of start-up kits formed major highlights of the graduation ceremony.
The programme highlights the growing importance of technical and vocational education in addressing Nigeria’s unemployment challenge and developing a skilled workforce. By combining practical training with start-up equipment and employment linkages, such initiatives can strengthen micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), encourage technology adoption, support renewable energy solutions and expand opportunities for youth-led businesses.
Edited by Rosemary Aiyenale
Source: News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
