By: Manoah Kikekon
BADAGRY, LAGOS – The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) Lagos West Vice Chairman, in a strategic partnership with the First Lady of Badagry West LCDA, has officially enrolled 30 youths for a comprehensive one-year vocational training programme.
The initiative, launched to commemorate World Youth Skills Day 2026, took place at Shito, Badagry West, Lagos State. The fully sponsored programme covers a wide array of high-demand vocational and technical skills, including Art and Design, Fashion Design, Catering, Decoration, Bead Making, Barbing, Hair Styling, and Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
Delivering his keynote address at the unveiling ceremony, the NYCN Lagos West Vice Chairman, Aladeotan David, revealed that the initiative was born out of a collaborative outreach that received a massive boost from the local council leadership.
"We initially looked at 10 beneficiaries which we intend to empower after the training, but now the First Lady has asked us to increase it. Currently, we are on 35, so the intention is to train our youths to build them by reducing the level of unemployment and idleness," Aladeotan stated.
Emphasizing the need for proactive grassroots intervention, he added, "Gradually, we all need to take action by doing something. We are moving from the era of complaining to the era of action. We believe that taking actions of this nature will reduce poverty and reduce youth unemployment to a minimal level."
Echoing his sentiments, the Chairperson and First Lady of Badagry West LCDA, Medeyonmi Ibrahim, expressed profound delight at the partnership, noting that skill acquisition remains the most viable tool for economic self-reliance.
"This is to empower the youths, which I'm very happy about, as this will keep them engaged and make them useful for themselves and their families," Mrs. Ibrahim remarked. She offered a word of encouragement to the beneficiaries, advising them, "to be focused and make sure they put all their efforts into that programme to make sure they gain the reasons why they are here and they will also make us proud too."
For many participants, the initiative represents a life-changing opportunity to break financial barriers and acquire professional competence.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Uthman Awesu, who enrolled in the ICT training, could not hide his excitement. "This is an opportunity I've been looking for for a couple of years now, but I couldn't afford it," Awesu said. "I really appreciate the organizers. I'm sure after a year of this training, I'll be able to say I'm officially computer literate."