FirstBank Launches Vocational Training for Youth Empowerment

FirstBank Nigeria Limited has initiated a vocational training program to combat youth unemployment, particularly among women. The program, launched in partnership with the African Project Development Centre (APDC), was highlighted during a graduation ceremony for 50 women who completed a vocational entrepreneurship training program in Gwagwalada, Abuja.

Saratu Salawu, representing the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, emphasized skill acquisition as a critical tool for addressing unemployment and poverty. She urged graduates to utilize their acquired skills proactively.

Nkechi Mathew, representing the Pioneer Mandate Secretariat, noted that the graduates are prepared to contribute meaningfully to economic development. The initiative includes training in fashion design, hair styling, and makeup artistry, beginning on September 16, 2025, and concluding with a grand fashion fair in 2027.

The program aims to empower participants to create products, generate income, and improve their livelihoods, encouraging them to become job creators rather than job seekers.