The Federal Government has awarded grants of N500,000 each to 120 participants of the “Unlock Training Programme” organized by the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Technical, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Education, Madam Abiola Arogundade.
The grant award ceremony, held on Saturday in Abuja, was attended by several ministers and top presidential aides. Arogundade announced that deserving participants will also receive Solar Kiosks and Certificates of Completion to support their businesses.
The Solar Kiosks, designed for various uses such as hairdressing, catering, and food vending, are equipped with sockets for phone charging and spaces for Point of Sales (POS) terminals and other businesses.
Arogundade explained that the Unlock Training Programme was initiated to boost the potentials of Nigerian youths for economic development. Over 10,000 participants were trained on writing and executing Business Plans, and 120 winners with the best plans were selected for the grants.
The programme is part of the Federal Government’s initiatives to promote technical, vocational, and entrepreneurship skills, including the inclusion of these skills in the Students Loans and the inauguration of Skills Council in the Presidency.
The event also featured the issuance of incorporation certificates to participants by the Corporate Affairs Commission and the crediting of beneficiaries’ accounts by a commercial bank.
The Federal Government’s commitment to supporting skills and enterprise development was reaffirmed, with promises of future programmes for those who did not receive awards.
