RismadarVoice Reporters
October 21, 2026
The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced plans to strengthen skills acquisition and entrepreneurship programmes as part of a broader strategy to combat insecurity, reduce youth unemployment and promote sustainable livelihoods across Nigeria.
The initiative seeks to address socioeconomic conditions that could expose unemployed and vulnerable young people to recruitment by criminal organisations.
The Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Technical, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Education (TVEE), Dr Abiola Arogundade, disclosed the development on Wednesday during a meeting with the Special Adviser to the President on Homeland Security, retired Major General Adeyinka Famadewa, in Abuja.
The meeting focused on strengthening collaboration between both offices to promote economic empowerment, improve employability and integrate vocational education into national security strategies.
Arogundade explained that the proposed partnership would provide young Nigerians with practical skills and entrepreneurship opportunities capable of supporting financial independence.
According to her, combating insecurity requires more than military and law enforcement operations, particularly in communities where poverty, unemployment and limited economic opportunities increase vulnerability to criminal recruitment.
She maintained that access to vocational education, employment opportunities and sustainable income could provide alternatives to criminal activities.
The presidential aide also emphasised the importance of awareness campaigns, community engagement and inclusive economic programmes in promoting long-term peace.
Famadewa, whose office oversees homeland security coordination, stressed the need to complement conventional security operations with preventive measures addressing the underlying causes of insecurity.
The proposed collaboration would also support efforts to improve intelligence coordination, strengthen surveillance and border security, identify emerging threats and enhance responses to security incidents.
The development builds on the Federal Government’s existing National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy, which includes vocational training, digital skills development and entrepreneurship support.
In September, the government announced a broader target of empowering five million young Nigerians through skills acquisition and livelihood programmes.
The initiative has already supported training activities in several locations, including the Federal Capital Territory and Oyo State.
In October, hundreds of beneficiaries completed vocational and digital skills training in Oyo State, with areas of instruction including artificial intelligence, graphic design, fashion design and makeup artistry.
The government said participants would receive tools and support intended to help them establish businesses or improve their employment prospects.
The latest partnership between the TVEE and Homeland Security offices is expected to connect such economic empowerment efforts more directly with crime prevention and community security objectives.
However, the Presidency has not disclosed a separate budget, implementation timetable or beneficiary target for the proposed security-focused collaboration.
The effectiveness of the initiative will depend on how the participating agencies translate the proposed partnership into accessible training opportunities, sustainable employment and measurable improvements in community resilience.
