A member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Oluwatosin Isedowo, has empowered over 500 students of Government Secondary School, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja, with practical vocational and entrepreneurial skills in line with Nigeria’s evolving educational curriculum.
The initiative, tagged: ‘Educate the Dreamers Project’, was implemented as Isedowo’s Community Development Service (CDS) project during her primary assignment at Custom Broadcasting Network, the media arm of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
The four-day training exposed students to hands-on learning in solar installation and maintenance, fashion design and digital literacy, key areas aligned with the Federal Government’s renewed focus on vocational and technical education in secondary schools.
Educate The Dreamers (ETD) is an initiative aimed at providing quality education and skills training for secondary school students, including out-of-school teenagers and financially challenged students in Nigeria.
Speaking during the grand finale and donation of training equipment to the school, Isedowo described the project as a platform designed not only to teach practical skills, but also to create life-changing opportunities for young people.
‘Today marks the grand finale of the Educate the Dreamers Project, a community development service initiative designed to provide quality education, vocational empowerment and life-changing opportunities for young people, especially students in public schools,’ she said.
She explained that beyond the training, equipment was donated to ensure the students continue practising and improving their skills long after the programme.
‘Our goal was not just to teach skills, but to create opportunities that will have lasting impact. That is why today, beyond training, we are also donating equipment to support continuous learning,’ she stated.
As part of the intervention, Isedowo announced scholarship support for three underprivileged students, with their school fees fully paid for one academic session.
She disclosed that the initiative, which has already impacted 500 students, aims to expand its reach to 1,000 students per school across selected government colleges in each of Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
According to her, the project has now evolved into the Educate the Dreamers Foundation, with a vision to reach thousands of public school students nationwide.
‘My motivation for this project is personal. I know where I am coming from, and I understand how skills and opportunities can transform lives. Today, I am simply extending a hand to the younger generation,’ she said.
In her remarks, the Principal of Government Secondary School, Wuse Zone 3, Josephine Ugwu, described the intervention as timely and transformative, particularly with the implementation of the new curriculum emphasising vocational and entrepreneurial education.
She said the programme had sparked enthusiasm among students and provided exposure beyond conventional classroom learning.
‘What happened here over the past week represents what 21st-century education should look like. I saw our students excited, engaged and working together as teams,’ she said.
Ugwu noted that the donation of training equipment, particularly an industrial sewing machine, would significantly improve practical learning in the school.
‘Before now, our students trained mainly with manual machines. With this new equipment, they will now gain exposure to industrial-standard tools, which better prepares them for real-world opportunities,’ she added.
She urged students to embrace skill acquisition alongside academic excellence, stressing that certificates alone are no longer enough in today’s competitive world.
Also speaking at the event, Comptroller Mbwidiffu Ibrahim, Head of the Corporate Social Responsibility Unit of the Nigeria Customs Service, commended Isedowo for her resilience and commitment to youth development.
She encouraged students not to abandon their dreams and emphasised the importance of practical skills in nation-building.
‘Skill is not the new currency; skill has always been the currency. Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it very well,’ she said.
Ibrahim also revealed that Isedowo faced serious challenges while planning the project but remained determined to complete it.
On his part, the Senior Technical Adviser to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Dr Bala Yusuf Yunusa, said the initiative aligns with the federal government’s youth empowerment and sustainable development agenda.
He noted that the programme contributes directly to the achievement of SDG 4 on quality education and SDG 8 on decent work and economic growth, while also supporting poverty reduction and economic inclusion.
‘This initiative is at the heart of the youth empowerment strategy being implemented at both national and sub-national levels. The skills being imparted here have the capacity to create employment opportunities and reduce poverty,’ he said.
The event attracted educators, government officials, development partners and members of the community, who praised the initiative as a model for practical education and youth empowerment in Nigeria.