Federal Government TRAINS 150 Enugu youths in AI and vocational skills

The Federal Government began a two‑week intensive training for 150 youths in Enugu State on Wednesday, covering Artificial Intelligence, solar installation and fashion design. The programme is part of the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy and aims to give participants practical skills and starter packs for their own enterprises.

The training is coordinated by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Technical, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Education, in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning. Dr Abiola Arogundade, Senior Special Assistant on TVEE, said the initiative reflects the Renewed Hope Agenda and the government’s commitment to empower young people across the country. She noted the South‑East’s importance and said the choice of Enugu shows inclusive empowerment.

The Federal Ministry has set up a monitoring and evaluation system to track progress. Beneficiaries will be assessed after six months and again after one year to see how they use the skills and equipment provided. Mr Felix Okonkwo, Director of the Macroeconomic Analysis Department, explained that the focus is shifting from cash transfers to sustainable economic empowerment through vocational training.

Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, represented by the Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mr Chris‑Roberts Ozongwu, praised President Bola Tinubu for the intervention, calling it a significant step in youth empowerment and poverty reduction. The 150 participants were selected through an open application process advertised on social media and radio stations. The programme forms part of a broader effort to lift five million Nigerians out of poverty by equipping them with marketable skills and supporting small‑scale businesses.