When 26-year-old Tijani Yusuf stepped onto the podium in Surulere, Lagos, to receive his certificate, he was dressed in a neatly tailored outfit—one he made himself. Just weeks earlier, Yusuf had never touched a sewing machine.
“I made this cloth,” he said with a smile that drew applause from the audience.
Yusuf is one of 70 young Nigerians whose lives are taking a new direction, thanks to a Federal Government–sponsored vocational training programme facilitated by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).
The initiative, which trained participants in fashion design and eco-packaging and paper bag production, goes beyond skills acquisition—it offers hope in a country where youth unemployment remains a pressing challenge.
For eight weeks, 50 fashion design trainees learned everything from fabric selection to operating industrial sewing machines, while 20 others completed an intensive two-week eco-packaging programme focused on sustainable paper bag production.
Project Coordinator Mr. Musa Rasaq explained that the programme was designed with long-term impact in mind.
“This is about self-reliance and local content development. We want participants to earn, grow, and contribute meaningfully to the economy,” he said.
With business starter packs in hand and access to digital platforms to showcase their products, beneficiaries are now better positioned to turn skills into income—one stitch and one paper bag at a time.
Sewing a Future: UNILAG Graduate Chooses Entrepreneurship Over Job Hunting
For Odukoya Omotoyosi, a recent graduate of the University of Lagos, the future once looked uncertain. Like many young Nigerians, she was caught between academic achievement and limited job opportunities.
That changed when she joined the NCDMB-sponsored fashion design training.
“In just two months, I learned how to make dresses, corporate outfits and caps,” she said. “Instead of waiting endlessly for a job, I now have the confidence to start my own business.”
Her story mirrors that of dozens of other participants who found more than technical skills during the programme—they discovered purpose.
Beyond sewing and design, the programme provided transport stipends and meals, easing the financial burden on trainees and allowing them to focus fully on learning.
According to organisers, participants were selected through community-based channels, including churches and local leaders, ensuring the opportunity reached youths at the grassroots.
For Omotoyosi, the training represents more than empowerment—it represents independence.
“This programme didn’t just teach me a skill,” she said. “It gave me direction.”
Turning Paper Into Profit: How Eco-Packaging Is Opening New Doors for Lagos Youths
In an era of rising environmental awareness, eco-packaging is fast becoming big business—and young Nigerians are positioning themselves to benefit.
Akindeji Olakunle, one of 20 trainees in the eco-packaging and paper bag making programme, described the experience as eye-opening.
“I never knew paper bags could be a sustainable source of income,” he said. “Now I have the skills to produce and sell them.”
The two-week intensive training introduced participants to paper bag design, production techniques, and quality control, preparing them for both small-scale entrepreneurship and larger supply opportunities.
Mr. Musa Rasaq noted that beneficiaries would be supported beyond training, with plans to link them to online marketplaces and social media platforms to attract customers.
“The idea is sustainability—not just training, but real economic impact,” he explained.
As plastic alternatives gain popularity, participants like Olakunle see a future where environmental responsibility meets financial independence.
“Expand It”: Beneficiaries Urge FG to Reach More Youths
As certificates were handed out and starter packs distributed, a common message echoed among beneficiaries—the programme should grow.
Many participants called on the Federal Government and the NCDMB to expand the initiative, saying countless youths are eager to acquire practical skills but lack access.
“This programme is proof that when young people are given the opportunity, they will rise to the occasion,” one beneficiary said.
Now in its second edition, the NCDMB skills acquisition initiative is steadily building a reputation as a quiet but powerful tool against youth unemployment—one that replaces despair with dignity, and dependency with productivity.
Reporting By Fabian Anawo