The Federal Government has intensified its drive to eradicate poverty nationwide, calling on state governments, traditional rulers, community leaders, and the private sector to collaborate under the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS).
The NPRGS is a flagship presidential initiative designed to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty within 10 years through sustainable economic growth, targeted social protection, and practical skills acquisition.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Technical, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Education (TVEE), Dr Abiola Arogundade, announced the scheme’s national expansion in a statement in Abuja on Thursday, with the South-West zonal phase kicking off in Oyo State.
Highlighting the vision behind the initiative, Arogundade described the NPRGS as a cornerstone of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, emphasising the administration’s belief in the potential of young Nigerians.
‘Nigerian youths are not the problem facing the country, but the solution to its challenges,’ Arogundade stated.
Recounting the success of the initial rollout, the presidential aide recalled that the NPRGS launched its pioneer cohort in Abuja on June 30, 2025, with intensive training in cybersecurity, web development, and solar energy installation.
According to her, the Abuja phase alone attracted over 7,000 applications, demonstrating overwhelming public demand for technical and vocational empowerment.
‘Participants who arrived sceptical left with practical, marketable skills, having built their first websites and gained an understanding of digital security fundamentals, with graduates receiving laptops and certificates of completion,’ she added, describing the pioneer phase as a resounding success.
Building on that momentum, the NPRGS is expanding across all six geopolitical zones. Each zone is set to host 200 trainees in sessions lasting up to two weeks, bringing the total number of beneficiaries under this initial nationwide phase to 1,200 youths.
To maximise local impact, the skills offered in each state are tailored to meet regional market demand and trainee preferences. For the South-West zone, training in Oyo State is scheduled to begin on September 28, 2026, focusing on graphics/artificial intelligence (AI) design, make-up, fashion design, and agricultural processing (yoghurt making).
To ensure immediate self-reliance after training, every participant will receive starter tools to launch their businesses.
Dr Arogundade reiterated that the core objectives of the NPRGS extend beyond simple skill acquisition-they aim to significantly reduce unemployment, promote entrepreneurship, and drive the national mandate of lifting 100 million citizens out of poverty over the next decade.
She then urged state leadership to embrace the initiative actively as the Federal Government brings the scheme to every zone in the country.