The federal government has kicked off a significant phase of its National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRDS) programme in Ibadan, Oyo State, with the goal of lifting five million Nigerians out of poverty over the next four years. This initiative, which commenced on September 28, 2026, includes the training of 200 individuals in various vocational skills, including artificial intelligence, makeup artistry, and entrepreneurship.

Dr. Abiola Arogundade, the senior special assistant to the president on Technical, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Education (TVEE), announced the programme's launch, emphasizing its design to equip participants with practical skills that will connect them to immediate income-generating opportunities. In addition to the training, the government is distributing 500 devices to the participants, bringing the total number of beneficiaries to 700 under this intervention.

The training programme spans 10 days, concluding on October 9, 2026, and aims to provide participants with essential skills relevant to today’s job market. Keynote speaker, Mrs. Oluronke Shonubi, a principal consultant at P4 Change Consultants, underscored the importance of artificial intelligence in the current global economy, citing substantial investments by countries like the United States and China in AI technologies across various sectors.

Shonubi encouraged participants to develop their portfolios and leverage their AI knowledge to enhance their competitiveness in the job market. One of the beneficiaries, Olaleye Idowu, a graphic designer and a student at the Federal University Oye-Ekiti, expressed his enthusiasm about the training, stating that he hopes to become a professional AI prompt engineer within five years and aims to train others in the future.

Beyond technology, the programme also offers training in makeup artistry. Rukayat Muhammad, a makeup artist and CEO of Chuchu's Glamour, is leading this segment, with 85 participants expected to graduate as certified makeup artists. She mentioned that graduates would receive equipment and products to aid their practice post-training.

Dr. Arogundade urged all participants to fully engage in the training sessions, highlighting the programme's multiplier effect. She encouraged beneficiaries to share their newly acquired skills within their communities, stating, "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."

The NPRDS initiative is part of a broader strategy to address poverty in Nigeria, with plans to extend similar training programmes to other states in the future. Applications for upcoming training sessions will be available online, with skill areas tailored to meet local demands. This initiative reflects the government's commitment to fostering skills development and entrepreneurship as pathways to economic empowerment for Nigerians.