By Jonathan Lois
As the curtain fell on the Abuja phase of the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS), the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Technical, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Education (SSAP-TVEE), Dr. Abiola Arogundade, declared that Nigerian youths are “not the problem but the solution” to the nation’s development challenges.
Speaking during the closing ceremony of the Cybersecurity and Web Development training, which held at the Office of the SSAP-TVEE in Abuja, Dr. Arogundade commended the participants for their transformation over the course of the ten-day programme.
“From lines of code to your first websites, from data firewalls to collaboration, you have proven that with access and the right kind of investment, Nigerian youths are not the problem, but the solution,” she said.
Describing the journey of the trainees, Arogundade said many came in doubtful of the impact the training would have, but leave with renewed hope and a sense of purpose.
“As I stand before you, I see those questions replaced by confidence and clarity… You now carry renewed hope,” she said.
She emphasized that the initiative, championed under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is about more than just technical training.
“This is not just about training. It is about unlocking dignity. It is about reimagining. It is about creating a Nigeria where no one is left behind,” she said.
Dr. Arogundade congratulated the participants, noting that they had proven the OSSAP-TVEE training model works.
“Abuja, you have set the tone. You have shown us that when we invest in practical, high-impact training, transformation happens,” she added.
She also commended the facilitators for their dedication and mentorship, and thanked the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning for its partnership in delivering the project.
In her closing remarks, the SSAP-TVEE described the participants not just as beneficiaries but as pioneers.
“Let what you have accomplished illuminate a path for others. Our job has not finished. From here, we move on to other states, taking with us the lessons, the energy, and the spirit you have ignited here in Abuja,” she said.
On behalf of the facilitators, Mr. Charles Ofoefule thanked the Federal Government for its commitment to youth empowerment and encouraged participants to apply the skills and tools acquired to improve their livelihoods.
The event also featured the official presentation of certificates and laptops to the participants, which they had used during the training and were allowed to keep as tools for continued learning.
Notable government officials in attendance included Mr. Felix Okonkwo, Director of Micro-Economies at the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, along with directors from Finance and Administration and the National Monitoring and Evaluation unit.
Meanwhile, the Solar Energy Installation training — the second phase of the NPRGS Abuja programme — kicked off on Monday, July 14. The SSAP-TVEE welcomed a fresh batch of participants and urged them to seize the opportunity to become part of Nigeria’s energy and employment solutions.
“This training addresses two of Nigeria’s greatest challenges — energy access and unemployment. It is a launchpad. Your chance to become part of the solution,” she told the trainees.
Arogundade praised President Tinubu and the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning for making such transformative programmes possible, and encouraged participants to approach the 10-day training with “curiosity, discipline, and belief in what this moment could mean for your future.”
The Solar Energy Installation training will conclude on Friday, July 25, marking the end of the Abuja phase of the NPRGS initiative, which began on June 30.
Dr. Arogundade also thanked the media for amplifying the stories of transformation taking place under the NPRGS, urging continued collaboration in spreading messages of hope and progress.
“We encourage you to do your best so we can achieve our goal of removing as many Nigerians as possible from poverty — and this is what your President wants,” she told the participants.
