More than 1,000 young people in Bayelsa State have completed a two-month digital and vocational skills acquisition programme aimed at equipping them with employable and entrepreneurial skills beyond the oil and gas sector. The training, organised by Africa’s Hub for Skills and Enterprise Development to commemorate this year’s World Youth……
More than 1,000 young people in Bayelsa State have completed a two-month digital and vocational skills acquisition programme aimed at equipping them with employable and entrepreneurial skills beyond the oil and gas sector.
The training, organised by Africa’s Hub for Skills and Enterprise Development to commemorate this year’s World Youth Skills Day, exposed participants to practical courses in artificial intelligence (AI), digital marketing, website development, solar installation, photography, catering, tailoring, makeup artistry, shoemaking and other vocational trades.
Speaking during an interview on TVC News, the Managing Director of Africa’s Hub for Skills and Enterprise Development, Wisdom Agogovbia, said the initiative was designed to change the mindset of young people and prepare them for emerging opportunities in the global economy.
“The programme, Future Skills, has really come to help the young people of Bayelsa State because it gives them the opportunity to think beyond oil and begin to see opportunities globally, especially around the digital space,” he said.
Agogovbia disclosed that the programme was implemented in partnership with Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited and Meto Engineering, describing the collaboration as a significant contribution to youth empowerment in the state.
According to him, exceptional graduates will receive starter packs, including laptops, sewing machines, catering equipment and solar installation toolkits, to enable them to establish their own businesses.
He also revealed that many participants had already begun earning income before the end of the programme.
“One of the surprising things about this project is how it has created jobs automatically. Before the second month of training ended, many of the participants had already secured freelance jobs. Their testimonials have been truly amazing,” he said.
Beyond skills acquisition, Agogovbia said the organisation intends to nurture participants into business owners capable of employing others.
“We want these young people not just to acquire skills, but to build businesses from those skills and create enterprises that will employ other young people in Bayelsa and beyond,” he added.
He further explained that discussions were ongoing with government and other stakeholders to improve access to funding for graduates, noting that financial support would help beneficiaries scale their businesses after the training.
Responding to concerns over poor electricity supply and internet connectivity in the state, Agogovbia said the programme deliberately combined digital training with practical vocational skills to ensure participants could thrive despite infrastructure challenges.
“We had young people learning solar installation, tailoring and other vocational skills because businesses like fashion will never go out of demand. It is a complete package, and these young people are ready to overcome challenges and build successful enterprises,” he said.
The organisers expressed confidence that the initiative would contribute to reducing youth unemployment, promoting entrepreneurship and discouraging activities such as vandalism of critical national assets by creating sustainable economic opportunities for young people across Bayelsa State.