Jeke Riley Limited on Monday churned out 250 industry-ready youths after monthlong intensive training program to equip them with full range of skills designed to enable them become self-reliant and contribute meaningfully to the industrial development of the country.

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The training program is sponsored by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and delivered by Jake Riley Limited as part of a joint commitment by the partners to youth empowerment and sustainable skills development.

The program, according to Jake Riley Limited, is conducted under the FAST Selling Skills Training Program conceived to sharpen the skills of Nigerian youths and equip them with business starter packs that enables them launch out into commercial services.

The graduation ceremony, held at Women Development Center in Agege, Lagos State, marked the successful completion of one of the intensive, demand-driven training initiatives designed to equip participants with practical, income-generating skills aligned with current market needs.

 Chief Executive Officer of Jake Riley Limited, Mrs. Funmi Ogbue, described the programme as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s future, noting that NCDMB continues to demonstrate that human capital development is central to national growth.

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According to her, the programme reflects NCDMB’s understanding that Nigeria’s most valuable resource lies in the creativity, talent, and potential of its youth rather than in natural resources alone.

“The Board is not handing out charity. It is building capability. These young people have not been given handouts; they have been given tools to earn, grow, and scale,” Ogbue said.

She explained that the FAST Selling Skills Training Programme was implemented under NCDMB’s capacity-building mandate and targeted young Nigerians between the ages of 18 and 35. She added that participants were selected through a competitive and transparent process that assessed interest, basic educational qualifications, and commitment to entrepreneurship.

All 250 participants received foundation training in business development, digital marketing, financial literacy, and customer service. They were also trained in one of seven technical specialization areas, including solar photovoltaic installation, fashion design and garment making, catering and food business, digital skills and freelancing, textile design and adire making, electrical installation, and GSM and mobile phone repair.

Ogbue noted that the focus of the programme was to deliver skills that are immediately deployable, market-ready, and capable of generating income from the first day, in line with NCDMB’s broader local content and youth development strategy.

She referenced the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, whose leadership, she said, has consistently emphasized practical capacity building that aligns with real economic opportunities. She also commended the Director of Capacity Building at NCDMB, Engr. Bamidele Abayomi, for championing skills-based initiatives that equip young Nigerians for self-reliance and job creation.

Under the programme, participants were exposed to hands-on training delivered by industry professionals, with a strong emphasis on quality, safety standards, and entrepreneurship. The initiative is expected to help reduce unemployment, stimulate small business growth, and expand Nigeria’s pool of skilled technical workers.

Ogbue urged the graduates to apply their skills immediately, pursue excellence, and view their training as the beginning of a lifelong learning journey. She encouraged them to collaborate, support one another, and use their skills to create opportunities for others.

The FAST Selling Skills Training Programme is part of NCDMB’s broader efforts to support youth development, deepen local content, and promote private-sector-led economic growth. The Board expressed optimism that initiatives like this will continue to bridge skills gaps, empower young Nigerians, and contribute meaningfully to national development.

The ceremony concluded with the presentation of certificates to the graduands, who were charged to use their newly acquired skills to build sustainable livelihoods and contribute to Nigeria’s economic transformation.