The Edo State Government has significantly broadened opportunities for technical, vocational, entrepreneurial, and digital skills training as part of its comprehensive strategy to address youth unemployment and unlock economic potential among young people.
The Commissioner for Youth Affairs, Mr. Charity Amayaenvbo, disclosed this on Wednesday in Benin during events commemorating the 2026 World Youth Skills Day.
Amayaenvbo stated that the administration of Governor Monday Okpebholo views youths as critical drivers of economic growth and is therefore making substantial investments in vocational training, entrepreneurship, and digital innovation to improve their employability and self-reliance.
He revealed that the state is collaborating with EdoJobs, the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), various federal agencies, and development partners to equip young people with skills that meet the demands of today’s evolving job market.
According to the commissioner, these partnerships have expanded training programmes in areas such as information and communication technology, agriculture, renewable energy, construction, hospitality, the creative industry, fashion, and automotive technology.
The primary goal, he explained, is to empower youths with practical, market-relevant skills that will enable them to secure decent employment, create jobs for others, and establish sustainable businesses.
Amayaenvbo emphasised that the programmes are designed to be inclusive, offering equal opportunities to women, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups to acquire valuable and competitive skills.
He encouraged young people to embrace lifelong learning and continuously upgrade their competencies to stay relevant in an economy increasingly shaped by digital technology, artificial intelligence, and green innovation.
The commissioner assured that the state government would sustain its investments in skills acquisition, entrepreneurship, and innovation to significantly reduce unemployment and cultivate a highly productive youth population.
One beneficiary of the state’s ICT and skills acquisition programme, Mr. Osakpanmwan Edobo, described the initiative as life-changing, noting that it had greatly enhanced his employment prospects and economic outlook.
