Abuja, May 5th, 2025 – Following a recent visit by a high-level delegation from the Federal Ministry of Youth Development and Wema Bank to the Africa Projects Development Centre (APDC) on April 5th, 2025, the Centre yesterday launched the opening ceremony for the first cohort of the Skillnovation programme. This initiative highlights the commitment of the Federal Ministry of Youth Development and Wema Bank to empower 1,000 Nigerian youths (aged 18–35) across the Federal Capital Territory, equipping them with essential digital, technical, and business skills to enhance employability and entrepreneurial capacity.

The training programme leverages the expertise of the Research, Development & Training Initiative (RDTI), a subsidiary of the APDC Group, to deliver instruction to beneficiaries in ten cohorts of 100 participants each over a ten-month period (one month per cohort). The training will upskill participants in areas such as makeup artistry, digital marketing, culinary arts/confectionery, and hair braiding and wig crafting.

Delivering the welcome address on behalf of the Centre’s management, Mr. Caleb Evinemi, Lead Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist at APDC, urged trainees to be dedicated, committed, and to take full advantage of the facilitators in order to maximize the benefits of the intensive one-month training. The Ministry’s delegation, represented by Oyine Lucy Olofu, Head of Department (Special Duties), was joined by Mr. Timi Obisesan, Lead, Public Sector Payments and Partnerships at Wema Bank; both echoed Mr. Evinemi’s sentiments and encouraged participants to make the most of the opportunity.

All parties reaffirmed their commitment to driving impactful training initiatives that will contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s youth development landscape. Stay tuned for updates on the programme’s progress and impact.

#APDC #TrainingCollaboration #YouthDevelopment #SkillsPartnership #NigeriaYouthTraining #WemaBank #RDTI #Skillnovation.