NCDMB Empowers 250 Youths With Skills and Starter Packs to Drive Sustainable Livelihoods

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has reinforced its commitment to youth empowerment and sustainable economic development with the presentation of starter packs to 250 youths who completed its High Selling Skills training programme in Lagos State. The initiative reflects a strategic approach to addressing youth unemployment by prioritising practical, income generating skills over short term interventions.
Implemented in partnership with Jake Riley Academy, the programme was designed to bridge the gap between formal education and employability by equipping participants with hands on competencies that enable immediate entry into self employment. Over an intensive three week period, beneficiaries received practical training across multiple vocational and entrepreneurial fields, positioning them to generate daily income and reduce reliance on salaried jobs in an increasingly competitive labour market.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony, the Director of Capacity Building at NCDMB, Mr. Abayomi Bamidele, highlighted the programme’s alignment with the Board’s statutory mandate to drive sustainable development through capacity building and local content growth. He noted that the presence of members of the House of Representatives, led by the Chairman of the House Committee on Local Content, underscored the national significance of skills development as a tool for economic resilience and job creation.
A key feature of the programme was the provision of starter packs, described by the Board as essential enablers for translating training into real economic activity. Beneficiaries were advised against selling the equipment, as the long-term objective of the initiative is to create sustainable livelihoods with multiplier effects that extend to families and communities.

Beyond the immediate beneficiaries, NCDMB disclosed plans to expand its youth-focused interventions, particularly targeting individuals aged 35 and below with engineering backgrounds, to strengthen Nigerian participation in the oil and gas sector. This forward looking strategy signals a broader commitment to building a skilled workforce capable of driving national development and enhancing local content across critical industries.
Overall, the High Selling Skills Programme represents a structured, impact-driven model of youth empowerment one that combines training, tools, discipline, and accountability to foster entrepreneurship, self reliance, and inclusive economic growth.