The Federal Government says it is targeting five million young Nigerians for poverty reduction through skills acquisition and empowerment programmes under the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS).

Senior Assistant to the President on Technical, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Education, Dr Abiola Arogundade, disclosed this on Monday in Ibadan during the commencement of the Oyo State phase of the programme, which runs from September 28 to October 9.

She said the initiative was designed to equip young Nigerians with practical, market-relevant skills while connecting beneficiaries to business opportunities and organisations to support sustainable livelihoods.

The Oyo phase is training 200 youths in Graphics and Artificial Intelligence, makeup artistry and fashion designing, while 500 tablets will be distributed at the programme’s grand finale as part of the Federal Government’s digital empowerment drive.

Arogundade said beneficiaries would also receive laptops, sewing machines and fully equipped makeup kits to support their entrepreneurial activities after the training.

She said the programme, which began in the Federal Capital Territory, would be extended to other states and geopolitical zones.

Speaking on the Graphics and AI training, keynote speaker Mrs Oluronke Shonubi said the growing adoption of artificial intelligence presented opportunities to improve employability and prepare young Nigerians for emerging jobs.

Beneficiaries expressed appreciation for the initiative, saying the training would help bridge skills gaps, reduce unemployment and create opportunities for self-employment.