The federal government, through the (NCDMB), has sponsored vocational training and provided business starter packs for 70 young people in Lagos, as part of a youth empowerment and skills acquisition programme.
The beneficiaries were trained in two areas, eco-packaging and paper bag making, as well as fashion designing. The programme was sponsored by the NCDMB, an agency of the federal government, and focused on equipping participants with practical skills that can generate income and support local content development.
Speaking at the certificate and starter pack presentation ceremony held yesterday in Surulere, Lagos, the Project Coordinator for the programme, Mr. Musa Rasaq, said the initiative was designed to help young Nigerians become self-reliant and economically productive.
According to Rasaq, the eco-packaging and paper bag making segment was a two-week intensive training that equipped 20 participants with hands-on knowledge in paper bag design and production. He added that the fashion design programme lasted eight weeks and trained 50 participants in sewing and garment production.
Rasaq explained that participants were selected through community-based channels, including local publications, churches and community leaders, to ensure inclusiveness and grassroots participation.
He said the NCDMB had put structures in place to ensure post-training support and long-term impact, noting that beneficiaries would be connected to digital platforms and social media channels where they can showcase their products.
“The main sponsor of this programme is the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board. The goal is to promote local content. At the end of the training, whatever a delegates produce can be uploaded on designated platforms to attract patronage and business opportunities,” Rasaq said.
He disclosed that the programme, which began last year, was currently in its second edition and forms part of ongoing efforts by the NCDMB to tackle youth unemployment through vocational skills development.
Nigeria Startup News gathered that some of the beneficiaries expressed appreciation to the organisers, describing the training as impactful.
One of the beneficiaries from the fashion designing programme, Mr. Tijani Yusuf, said participants were taught both theoretical and practical aspects of sewing, including the use of different sewing machines, fabrics and design techniques.
“For those of us who had no prior knowledge of sewing, we were taught from scratch. The clothe I am wearing today was sewn by me as part of our project assignment,” Yusuf said.
Another beneficiary, Miss Odukoya Omotoyosi, a recent graduate of the University of Lagos, said the programme gave her the confidence and skills needed to start a business.
“Within two months of the programme, I gained the knowledge of making dresses, corporate outfits and caps. Instead of looking for a job, I now have the opportunity to start my own business,” she said, adding that participants also received transportation stipends and meals.
Similarly, a participant in the eco-packaging programme, Mr. Akindeji Olakunle, said the training exposed him to new opportunities and practical skills that would help him earn a living.
Beneficiaries called on the federal government and the NCDMB to expand the programme to accommodate more youths, noting that many young Nigerians were eager to acquire vocational skills if given the opportunity.
