Abuja, May 30^th, 2025 - APDC Group HQ, – The Africa Projects Development Centre proudly hosted the graduation ceremony for the inaugural cohort of the Skillnovation programme today, a training initiative aimed at empowering Nigerian youths within the Federal Capital Territory through strategic partnerships and comprehensive skills development. The landmark initiative represents a collaborative effort between the Federal Ministry of Youth Development (FMYD), Wema Bank, and the Research, Development & Training Initiative (RDTI), a subsidiary of the APDC Group, demonstrating the power of public-private partnerships in addressing youth unemployment and skills gaps across Nigeria.

Over the course of an intensive one-month training program, 100 young participants were equipped with hands-on technical, digital, and business management skills. The comprehensive curriculum included high-demand vocational and entrepreneurial training in makeup artistry, digital marketing, culinary arts/confectionery, hair braiding, and wig crafting. Facilitated by RDTI, a subsidiary of the APDC Group, the programme is designed to significantly enhance participants’ employability and entrepreneurial potential across diverse sectors.

The event was graced by distinguished dignitaries representing various sectors crucial to Nigeria's youth development landscape, including:  Mr. Olusanya Olubunmi, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Youth Development (representing the Honourable Minister of Youth Development), Mrs. Oyine Lucy Olofu, Head of Department (Special Duties), Federal Ministry of Youth Development, Mr. Timi Obisesan, Head of Partnerships, Abuja/Northern Nigeria, Wema Bank, Madam Chineyere Mmachi, Partnership Team, Wema Bank.

In his keynote address, the Honorable Minister for Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr Olusanya, expressed his admiration for the state-of-the-art facilities at The Centre, acknowledging that the trainees had been learning in an optimal environment conducive to skill acquisition and development. He noted his attentiveness to testimonials from the graduating trainees, particularly their praise for their instructors and the quality of training received.

"It's uncommon to hear such unanimous satisfaction from trainees about their training experience," the permanent secretary observed. "When participants express such genuine appreciation for their learning journey, it reflects exceptional work by the training team, and I commend them for their dedication." He challenged the graduates to leverage the skills acquired over the past month to add tangible value to their own lives and positively impact their immediate communities, emphasizing the importance of continuous learning and skills enhancement. Recognising the graduates as trailblazers, the Permanent Secretary commended their passion and commitment throughout the programme. "These are exactly the type of results that will encourage the ministry and our partners at Wema Bank to continue supporting and exploring innovative ways to empower more Nigerian youths," he stated, highlighting the programme's potential for scaling and replication.

The ceremony featured an exciting and highly competitive pitch competition that showcased the practical application of skills learned during the training period. From eleven initial participants, five groups successfully navigated the pre-qualification round to present their innovative business plans to a distinguished judging panel comprised of seasoned business development experts. Ignite Digitals emerged victorious, securing first place in the competition, while the top two teams collectively earned  ₦ 170,000 in cash prizes generously provided by the programme sponsors to support the launch of their startup ventures.

All stakeholders present at the ceremony reaffirmed their commitment to supporting graduates as they implement their newly acquired skills in real-world contexts.  

The second call for the programme is now open! If you are a youth living in the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria seeking to level up your skills in any of the mentioned areas, kindly click on the link below to be part of the next cohort:     https://bit.ly/Skillnovation  

Stay tuned for further updates on the program's progress and impact as we continue to empower more young Nigerians and  ensure accountability for the promises made during the training period.

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