In a fresh effort to tackle unemployment and empower Nigerian youth with practical skills, the Federal Government, in partnership with a non-governmental organization, has unveiled plans to train 1,000 unemployed youths in shoe making and maintenance.
The initiative, driven by the Office of the Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Capacity Development, Alhaji Sadiq Rabiu, is being carried out in collaboration with Reality Youth for Good Leadership and Support Initiative (RYGLSI), a youth-focused NGO committed to grassroots development and leadership training.
Speaking to journalists in Bauchi on Friday, the Deputy Executive Director of RYGLSI, Mr. Musa Idi, revealed that the two-day training programme will soon commence, with arrangements already completed. The specific dates for the training are expected to be announced shortly.
According to Mr. Idi, the empowerment programme is part of the wider efforts of President Tinubu’s administration under the *Renewed Hope Agenda*, which places emphasis on capacity building, job creation, and economic self-reliance among Nigerian youths.
“The aim is not just to teach them how to make and maintain shoes, but to equip them with a skill that can help them start their own businesses, support their families, and even employ others,” Idi said.
He explained that the training is fully sponsored by the Office of the Special Assistant to the President, which has promised financial support for the entire exercise. The government’s involvement, according to him, demonstrates a strong commitment to youth development and poverty reduction in Nigeria.
“He (the Special Assistant) has agreed to partner with us, sponsor the training, and has given us the go-ahead to implement the programme,” Mr. Idi added.
In addition to hands-on training, each participant will receive a shoe maintenance kit at the end of the programme, to help them start their own trade immediately.
Mr. Idi also disclosed that the first phase of the project will focus on youths in the Northwest geopolitical zone, which includes Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Jigawa, Sokoto, and Zamfara states. The beneficiaries will be selected through a collaborative process involving community leaders and political stakeholders to ensure fair representation across the seven states.
“We want to ensure that the training reaches the grassroots. That is why we are involving local leaders and stakeholders to help us identify the right candidates for this opportunity,” he said.
The programme is expected to expand to other regions of the country in later phases, after the initial rollout in the Northwest is completed and evaluated.
This initiative comes at a time when youth unemployment continues to pose a serious challenge in Nigeria. According to recent figures from the National Bureau of Statistics, Nigeria’s unemployment rate remains high, especially among young people between the ages of 15 and 35. Many youths lack the technical or vocational skills necessary to thrive in today’s job market, making government and private-led skill acquisition programmes more relevant than ever.
The Renewed Hope Agenda, championed by President Tinubu, places a strong focus on improving the livelihoods of Nigerians by supporting initiatives that create jobs, promote entrepreneurship, and improve access to education and vocational training.
Mr. Idi described the training as a small but important step toward addressing some of these challenges. He urged other organisations and well-meaning individuals to join in supporting similar empowerment efforts, stressing that government alone cannot carry the burden of development.
“We are calling on other NGOs, corporate bodies, and individuals to also come in and support our youth. If we empower them, we reduce crime, we reduce poverty, and we give them hope,” he said.
RYGLSI, the NGO driving the project alongside the government, has been involved in several youth-focused projects over the years, including leadership development programmes, civic education campaigns, and community development projects. Their collaboration with the presidency highlights the growing role that civil society organisations are playing in complementing government efforts at the grassroots level.
According to Mr. Idi, the organisation is committed to ensuring transparency and accountability throughout the training process. He said the beneficiaries will be carefully selected to include both male and female participants from disadvantaged backgrounds.
“We’re committed to fairness. The selection process will be community-based and inclusive. We want to make sure that the people who need this help the most actually get it,” he said
