FG to train 18,510 Nigerians under Renewed Hope Vocational and Skills Training Programme — Doro

FG to train 18,510 Nigerians under Renewed Hope Vocational and Skills Training Programme — Doro

The Federal Government has launched the Renewed Hope Vocational and Skills Training Programme (VSTP), an initiative that will equip 18,510 Nigerians across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with practical vocational and entrepreneurial skills aimed at boosting employment, promoting self-reliance and reducing poverty.

The programme, a flagship intervention of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA) under the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, is part of the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to empower vulnerable Nigerians through sustainable economic opportunities rather than short-term relief measures.

Speaking during the official launch of the programme at the Government Technical College, Area 3, Garki, Abuja, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, described the initiative as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s human capital and a critical step toward creating long-term livelihoods.

According to a statement issued by the Minister’s Senior Technical Adviser on Information Systems and Data Analysis, Dr Abimbola Fasanu, the vocational training programme is designed to provide beneficiaries with practical skills that will improve their employability and prepare them to establish successful businesses.

“This programme is more than a training exercise; it is a strategic investment in Nigeria’s future. Under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we are moving from palliatives to pathways by equipping Nigerians with practical skills that create opportunities, restore dignity and build lasting prosperity,” Doro said.

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The minister explained that the initiative forms part of the ministry’s broader One Humanitarian–One Poverty Response System (OHOPRS), a reform framework created to integrate humanitarian assistance, social protection and poverty reduction interventions into a single coordinated national strategy.

According to him, linking the programme with the National Social Investment Programme ensures that beneficiaries receive support beyond classroom training through entrepreneurship development, cooperative structures, access to business opportunities and pathways that encourage long-term economic independence.

The two-week intensive training programme combines technical vocational education with entrepreneurship and business management, enabling participants to acquire practical skills and the knowledge required to start and sustain profitable enterprises.

To ensure participants can immediately put their new skills into practice, the Federal Government will provide every beneficiary with a starter pack tailored to his or her selected vocational trade upon successful completion of the programme.

Beneficiaries will receive practical training in 14 high-demand vocational trades, including Automobile Technology, Agricultural Technology (Agric-Tech), Baking and Confectionery, Carpentry, Catering and Cookery, Electrical Installation, Housekeeping, Jewellery and Bead Making, Masonry, Plumbing, Welding and Fabrication, Sewing and Fashion Design, Grinding Operations, and Vulcanising.

Doro said the government’s objective extends beyond issuing certificates, stressing that the real success of the programme would be measured by the number of businesses created, jobs generated and families lifted out of poverty.

“Our vision is to see today’s trainee become tomorrow’s entrepreneur, employer and contributor to national development. This is how we will build resilience, reduce poverty and create inclusive economic growth for Nigerians,” he said.

He commended the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), vocational training providers, development partners and private sector organisations supporting the initiative, urging them to ensure quality training, effective monitoring and sustained mentorship for beneficiaries after graduation.

The minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to implementing reforms that empower Nigerians through practical skills development, entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihood opportunities in line with President Tinubu’s economic reform agenda.

The launch of the programme comes amid intensified government efforts to address youth unemployment, poverty and economic inequality through expanded social investment initiatives. Recent reforms have focused on strengthening transparency, digital verification, monitoring and accountability across the country’s social intervention programmes.

Development experts have consistently identified technical and vocational education as one of the most effective tools for reducing unemployment and stimulating economic growth, particularly among young people. By combining vocational training with entrepreneurship support, business starter packs and post-training assistance, the programme aims to help beneficiaries establish viable businesses, create jobs and contribute to local economic development.

Government officials said implementation of the programme would be closely monitored to ensure beneficiaries complete their training, receive their starter packs and gain continued support needed to build sustainable enterprises capable of improving household incomes and strengthening Nigeria’s economy.

FG to train 18,510 Nigerians under Renewed Hope Vocational and Skills Training Programme — Doro