Over 250 youths in Lagos have completed a digital and sustainable skills empowerment programme sponsored by the Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and executed by Jake Riley Academy.
The month-long intensive training was designed to equip participants with practical, income-generating skills aimed at promoting self-reliance and supporting Nigeria’s industrial and economic growth.
Organisers said the initiative formed part of the FAST Selling Skills Training programme, which focuses on strengthening the entrepreneurial capacity of young Nigerians and providing business starter packs to enable beneficiaries launch small-scale commercial ventures.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony, the Director of Capacity Building at NCDMB, Mr Abayomi Bamidele, urged Nigerian youths to embrace skills acquisition as a sustainable pathway to personal development and national progress. He was represented by Mr John Barigha, Supervisor, Marine Vessel Categorisation and Technical Assistant to the director.
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Bamidele stressed that the long-term benefits of the programme would depend largely on how effectively the participants apply the knowledge and tools they have received, warning against complacency.
He said discipline, commitment and consistency would be critical to success, adding that the Board was finalising plans for another training programme targeted at youths aged 35 and below, particularly those with engineering backgrounds, to expand opportunities within the oil and gas sector.
Barigha advised beneficiaries to utilise their starter packs responsibly, cautioning against selling the equipment provided.
“We are not giving you fish; we are teaching you how to fish. What you have received today is the net, and how you use it will determine your success,” he said, noting that NCDMB had made significant investments to ensure the programme delivers lasting impact.
Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of Jake Riley Limited, Mrs Funmi Ogbue, described the graduation as a defining moment for the beneficiaries, noting that youth empowerment remains central to economic transformation.
She said the initiative reflects NCDMB’s expanding commitment to local content development and human capital growth, describing it as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s future.
“Today is not just a celebration of achievement, but of a national vision that places young people at the centre of economic development,” Ogbue said.
She added that the training aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s agenda on inclusive growth, noting that the focus on market-ready skills positions participants to generate immediate income across emerging sectors.
