Abuja:The National Income Activation Initiative (NIAI) has successfully graduated over 150 Nigerians, offering them income activation opportunities through eight vendor pathways to enhance sustainable livelihoods. This milestone was marked by a virtual national graduation and income activation ceremony, attended by government officials, private-sector leaders, participating vendors, and beneficiaries.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Mrs. Gloria Diri, the wife of the Bayelsa Governor, praised the graduates and commended the initiative for its focus on economic empowerment and human capacity development. She encouraged the participants to maintain discipline, perseverance, and consistency as they embark on income-generating activities, highlighting the graduation as a significant transition from learning to earning.
Khuraira Musa, the lead of NIAI, explained that the initiative was designed to bridge the gap between skill acquisition and actual income generation. Emphasizing the initiative’s philosophy, ‘Learn, Activate, Earn,’ Musa noted that it aims to connect participants with practical commercial opportunities beyond just receiving certificates. However, she clarified that qualifying for income activation does not guarantee immediate earnings; success is measured by verified income generation and sustained livelihoods.
The initiative facilitates participant screening, assessment, matching, and activation coordination, while vendors provide pathway-specific training, market opportunities, and operational support. These pathways include digital services, product marketing, entrepreneurship, agriculture, and distribution among other sectors. Musa highlighted that participation, including registration, onboarding, training, assessment, and income activation, is free, with sustainability supported by institutional partnerships and ethical commercial arrangements.
Dr. Nurudeen Zauro, Presidential Technical Adviser on Economic and Financial Inclusion, delivered a keynote address emphasizing the importance of linking skills acquisition with measurable economic outcomes. The address stressed the need for market access, financial services, and sustainable livelihoods, recommending tracking participants’ earnings and economic progress over time to assess the initiative’s impact.
Hauwa Aliyu, Federal Commissioner at the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, and Iklima Salihu, Special Assistant at the National Information Technology Development Agency, both encouraged graduates to apply their skills productively and embrace continuous learning and innovation. Additionally, Dr. Abdulrashid Yerima expressed readiness for collaboration with NIAI in entrepreneurship development and mentorship.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that since its official launch on August 19, NIAI has registered over 1,000 participants across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with 452 onboarded and 150 qualifying for income activation through eight vendor pathways. The initiative has engaged 32 vendors in this effort.