In a strategic move to combat youth unemployment and foster sustainable economic development, the Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has partnered with Wedgwood Integrated Investment Ltd. to equip 250 young people in Akwa Ibom State with high-demand, market-relevant skills. This initiative, which concluded in Uyo, represents a significant shift from traditional empowerment models by focusing on practical, scalable vocational training coupled with essential business tools.
The three-week intensive programme was meticulously designed based on a market-gap analysis, targeting sectors with proven growth potential and low barriers to entry. This approach ensures that the training aligns with real-world economic opportunities, moving beyond generic skills to address specific local and national market needs.
Beyond Training: A Comprehensive Empowerment Package
The programme’s standout feature was its holistic structure, combining technical instruction with entrepreneurial mindset training and post-programme support. Participants were trained in five critical areas:
- Fashion Trade: Beyond sewing, this module covered contemporary design, client management, and small-scale production.
- Graphics Design, Content Creation & Digital Marketing: This digital skills cluster prepares youth for the burgeoning creative economy and remote work opportunities.
- Solar Installation: A direct response to Nigeria’s energy challenges and the growing renewable energy sector.
- GSM/Mobile Phone Repair: Taps into the essential service sector driven by near-ubiquitous mobile phone usage.
- Core Entrepreneurship: Integrated throughout, redefining “business” as the exchange of skills for monetary value.
Crucially, the training was capped with the distribution of high-quality starter packs, transforming knowledge into immediate earning potential. The packs included 67 portable sewing machines, 57 mini-laptops for digital creatives, 72 business scaling kits (tablets with keypads), 19 phone repair toolkits, and 35 solar installation kits.
The “Mindset Change” as the Core Innovation
Mr. Emmanuel Sani, Managing Director of Wedgwood, identified the programme’s core secret: a fundamental mindset reorientation. “We redefined business for the participants as the ability to exchange skills for monetary value,” he stated. This philosophy was operationalized through supplementary modules on customer service, sales, emotional intelligence, and mentorship—equipping trainees for the psychological and interpersonal challenges of entrepreneurship often overlooked in technical programmes.
This focus on soft skills and entrepreneurial thinking is what differentiates this initiative from short-term interventions. It builds resilience and adaptability, enabling beneficiaries to navigate market fluctuations and identify new opportunities.
A Sustainable Model with Long-Term Support
The partnership committed to a sustainable pathway, avoiding the common pitfall of “train-and-abandon.” According to Sani, Wedgwood and its partners will provide ongoing mentorship, follow-up programmes, and tracking mechanisms. The identification of “class governors” from among the trainees fosters a peer-support network, creating a self-sustaining community of practice.
Mr. Felix Ogbe, Executive Secretary of NCDMB, represented by Director Mr. John Barigha, emphasized the board’s philosophy of creating self-reliance. Using the metaphor of teaching to fish rather than giving fish, he urged beneficiaries to leverage the provided “nets”—the starter packs—to build sustainable livelihoods. He also issued a stern warning against selling the equipment, underscoring the significant investment and expectation of tangible results.
Beneficiary Perspective and Broader Impact
Miss Joyce Udoh, speaking for the beneficiaries, described the programme as “transformative,” highlighting its dual provision of technical knowledge and clear business direction. This feedback underscores the programme’s success in addressing both the “how” and the “how to monetize” aspects of skill acquisition.
This collaboration between NCDMB—a key driver of local content in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector—and a private firm like Wedgwood, signals a powerful model for public-private partnerships in youth development. It demonstrates how aligning training with market realities, coupling it with startup tools, and embedding continuous support can create a viable blueprint for reducing unemployment and stimulating micro-economies at the community level. The true measure of success will be seen in the sustainability and growth of the businesses launched from this initiative in the months and years to come.
Edited by Sandra Umeh
Source: NAN News
