The federal government, through the Bank of Industry (BOI) and the Federal Ministry of Youth Development (FMYD), has launched a pilot empowerment programme offering free vocational and entrepreneurial training to 500 young Nigerians.
The BOI Youth Empowerment Pilot Programme, announced in Lagos will be delivered by Sapphital, a Pan-African digital learning and technology company based in Abuja. Sapphital specialises in AI-powered Learning Management Systems (LMS), e-learning and custom software solutions.
The training will be delivered through the Nigerian Youth Academy (NiYA), where participants will complete short, instructor-led video courses. The courses were carefully selected based on income-generation potential and market demand, covering creative and artisan skills, production and manufacturing skills, as well as digital skills.
In addition to the core training, selected participants will have access to mentorship, practical exposure and enterprise support opportunities to help them transition into employment or entrepreneurship.
Speaking on the launch, the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to youth empowerment.
“President Bola Tinubu believes that youth empowerment and training are core pillars of national reform. A nation succeeds when its young population are globally competitive. Through this programme, we hope to equip Nigerian youths with the skills and capabilities they need to compete and thrive on a global scale,” Olawande said.
Speaking on the programme, the managing director and chief executive officer of the Bank of Industry, Dr. Olasupo Olusi described young Nigerians as the country’s greatest economic asset.
“Young Nigerians are our greatest economic asset, and the Bank of Industry is committed to providing them the tools required to build a brighter future, creating viable enterprises. This pilot is much more than just a training programme. It connects young people to skills, mentorship and real opportunities to start and sustain businesses,” Olusi said.
“Through our partnership with the Federal Ministry of Youth Development and Sapphital, we are building a model that can be scaled across Nigeria to reach even more young people in support of the Renewed Hope Agenda,” he added.
