NCDMB, Jake Riley Equip 250 Lagos Youths with Market-Ready Skills, Starter Kits

Peter Uzoho

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has successfully empowered 250 youths in Lagos State with three weeks of training in fast-selling and self-reliance skills. The vocational areas included fashion design, catering, electrical installation, solar installation, GSM and phone repair, and digital and tech services, among others.

The training programme was conducted in partnership with Jake Riley Academy, the implementing partner. The board also provided participants with basic starter toolkits to enable them to establish their businesses and start earning a living.

At the graduation ceremony of the NCDMB Fast-Selling Training Programme held in Lagos, Monday, 250 participants received certificates and startup tools, including tailoring equipment, solar equipment, electrical installation toolkits, catering utensils, digital skills and freelancing tools, textile and Adire-making tools, and GSM and phone repair tools.

Delivering the keynote address, the Director of Capacity Development Directorate at NCDMB, Mr. Abayomi Bamidele, urged Nigerian youths to take advantage of the board’s skill capacity development programmes to become self-reliant in a rapidly changing economic environment. He noted that one of NCDMB’s critical mandates is youth development.

Represented by the Technical Assistant to the Director of Capacity Building, John Barigha, Bamidele emphasized that skill acquisition is a viable source of income for families. He advised participants not to sell their starter packs, citing examples of individuals who have successfully leveraged similar training to earn a living.

In her opening speech, Chief Executive Officer and Programme Coordinator of Jake Riley Academy, Mrs. Funmi Ogbue, described the skill acquisition programme as a significant milestone for Nigeria’s local content development agenda. She noted that the programme recognizes the importance of equipping youths with skills to prepare them for their future roles.

Ogbue said the 250 participants were selected through a rigorous and competitive process and trained in various aspects of skill development, including business development skills, digital marketing, financial literacy, solar panel installation, textile making, catering, and food business.

Two beneficiaries, Adenike Arewulo and Chinemerem Amadi, thanked NCDMB for the opportunity and expressed satisfaction with the knowledge gained. They pledged to use the skills acquired to advance their business ideas and build self-reliant careers.