FG Distributes Starter Packs to 18,510 Artisans Nationwide

The Federal Government of Nigeria, via the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), has initiated the distribution of starter packs to 18,510 newly trained artisans as part of the Renewed Hope Vocational and Skills Training Programme (Batch 1). This event took place during a closing ceremony in Abuja, confirmed by Dr. Nsikak Okon, the National Programme Manager of N-POWER.

The training covered various vocational skills across over 230 accredited centers, including automobile technology, agricultural technology, and fashion design. To ensure effective monitoring and evaluation, GPS technology has been implemented to track beneficiaries' locations and interactions.

Dr. Okon emphasized transparency in the distribution process, stating that all information is accessible through an online portal. Each beneficiary also received a transport allowance of N60,000 for the two-week training period.

Associate Professor Badamasi Lawal, NSIPA National Coordinator/CEO, expressed satisfaction with the program's success, noting that the starter packs had been unused for over five years.