Tinubu’s Govt To Train 5m Nigerians Annually To Force Down Unemployment, Poverty, Says Presidency

• The Presidency announced on Wednesday that it has initiated the training of 500 inmates in every correctional facility across the country
• This initiative is crucial to the current administration's strategy to reduce poverty among Nigeria's 133 million population
• The training program provides inmates with personal and professional development opportunities, such as vocational training

Legit.ng journalist Segun Adeyemi has over 9 years of experience covering political events, civil societies, courts, and metro

FCT, Abuja — The federal government has devised plans to empower at least five million Nigerians annually by enabling them to acquire artisanal skills.

Additionally, they are training 500 inmates in Correctional Custodial Centres nationwide, with each participant receiving N500,000 to kickstart a business post-training.

Abiola Arogundade, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Technical, Vocational, and Entrepreneurial Education, explained that this initiative aims to reduce the number of Nigerians living below the poverty line, which currently stands at 133 million.

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She clarified that the program, involving cooperation with multiple nations, educational institutions, and financial bodies, aims to equip individuals with artisanal skills.

FG begins vocational training for 500 inmates

Arogundade highlighted that their organisation has already begun training at least 500 inmates in each correctional facility nationwide, aligning with their goals.

She said:

"We've also started training in the correctional centres. We launched the scheme in Kuje. We took a few members from my office to the correctional centre to do an audit of the needs of the inmates.

"I'm happy to announce that we started conducting the assessment and auditing of the trainees. And I am happy to announce that every single person that we train there is also going to be certified."

Vocational program to target secondary schools

Speaking on the idea of introducing compulsory skill acquisition for Secondary School leavers, the presidential aide said:

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"I am in talks with the Chairman of House of Representatives Committee on Polytechnic, Vocational and Technical Schools and we have being talking on how to introduce one skill for Senior Secondary School so that you come out with one skill and get even get certified.

"We started doing some research, so it's something we think it's important. It's still work in progress."

Arogundade disclosed partnerships with institutions such as the Bank for Industry (BoI), Industrial Training Fund (IDF), Presidential Amnesty Program (PAP), National Board for Technical Education (NBTC), the Private Sector, and more.

She also unveiled an initiative called "The Unlock Program," designed to empower and mentor youth in establishing viable and lasting businesses.

Tinubu postpones launch of student loan scheme

Meanwhile, the federal government, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has decided to postpone the launch of the Students Loan Scheme until further notice.

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Akintunde Sawyer, the executive secretary of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, stated that the previously scheduled launch on March 14th will not proceed as planned.

Sawyer mentioned that the government cannot provide a definite date for the scheme's launch due to unspecified reasons.

Source: Legit.ng