The Federal Government has pledged to train unemployed youths with skills tailored to Nigeria’s modern economic demands.
Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, made the announcement on Wednesday during a visit to North Central participants in the ongoing Skills-to-Wealth (S2W) training programme in Jos. The government launched the initiative last week.
Yilwatda explained that the S2W programme equips young Nigerians with practical skills to engage productively in the economy. “We designed this programme to train unemployed youths with skills that meet today’s economic needs,” he said.
He revealed that the programme aims to reach 10 million beneficiaries in one year. As a pilot phase, the government selected 27 participants from each state across the six geopolitical zones to receive training in agriculture, automobile technology, and renewable energy.
“We are tackling critical issues like food insecurity by training skilled individuals to reduce Nigeria’s food deficit,” Yilwatda said. “We’re also closing the energy gap by producing a skilled workforce, and we’re preparing technicians to manage modern, automated vehicles.”
He emphasized that the government is partnering with the private sector to ensure that the training matches current market needs.
“The President directed us to act swiftly. We’ve already procured starter packs for over 8,000 beneficiaries, and more than 1,000 are currently undergoing training here,” he added.
Yilwatda stated that the government plans to run the programme intensively over the next year, collaborating with the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) and industry players to certify trainees and prepare them for both local and international markets.
He stressed that the initiative forms part of a broader strategy to reduce poverty and stimulate economic growth. He encouraged participants to form cooperatives and take advantage of government schemes like the Government Enterprise Empowerment Programme (GEEP), which offers interest-free loans.
“We’re not just giving out money—we’re driving financial inclusion and expanding FinTech access across the country,” Yilwatda noted.
He also disclosed that the President has approved ₦1 trillion in soft loans for agriculture, while the Bank of Industry is providing additional support for business development.
“This programme is unprecedented in Africa. With the help of IT and data-driven systems, we’re making progress at a scale never seen before in Nigeria,” Yilwatda concluded.
