The Federal Government of Nigeria has opened applications for the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS) Technical & Vocational Upskilling Training – Cohort 2, giving interested Nigerians an opportunity to gain practical skills that can support employment, self-employment and small business development.
Fashion Design is one of the skills currently listed for the new cohort, alongside Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Make-Up.
The programme is being implemented through the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Technical, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Education (OSSAP-TVEE) as part of the Federal Government's wider effort to expand access to practical skills and entrepreneurship opportunities.
| Programme | Details |
|---|---|
| Programme | NPRGS Technical & Vocational Upskilling Training |
| Cohort | Cohort 2 |
| Year | 2026 |
| Training area | Fashion Design |
| Other available skills | Artificial Intelligence and Make-Up |
| Application status | OPEN |
| Application opening | 19 August 2026 |
| Application closing date | Not yet announced |
| Application fee | No official fee stated in the information reviewed |
| Application method | Online |
| Organising office | OSSAP-TVEE |
| Application portal |
Google Forms |
The current Cohort 2 application information was published on 19 August 2026 and includes Fashion Design among the available training options.
The National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS) is a Federal Government initiative focused on reducing poverty while creating pathways for Nigerians to improve their economic opportunities.
One of its important areas is technical and vocational education and training. Instead of focusing only on academic qualifications, the programme supports practical skills that participants can potentially use to secure work or establish their own businesses.
The new Cohort 2 training provides opportunities in areas including:
Fashion Design
Artificial Intelligence
Make-Up
For people interested in the fashion industry, the Fashion Design option could provide an opportunity to strengthen practical skills and improve their readiness for employment or entrepreneurship.
Fashion Design is particularly relevant to Nigerians who want to build a career or small business in the clothing and garment industry.
Participants interested in this area can develop practical knowledge that may help them work as fashion designers, tailors or clothing entrepreneurs.
Fashion design skills can also be used to establish different types of small businesses, including:
Custom clothing
Ready-to-wear fashion
School uniforms
Corporate clothing
Children's clothing
Bridal and event outfits
Clothing alterations
Fashion accessories
Small-scale garment production
For an aspiring entrepreneur, acquiring a practical skill is only the first step. Good customer service, financial management, pricing, marketing and business planning are also important for turning a vocational skill into a sustainable business.
The NPRGS Technical & Vocational Upskilling Training may be particularly useful for Nigerians who want to:
Learn a practical skill
Improve an existing vocational skill
Explore self-employment
Start a small fashion business
Develop skills for the creative economy
Improve their employability
Build a foundation for entrepreneurship
Applicants should, however, read the instructions on the current application form carefully and provide accurate information.
According to the current application information, three skills are listed for Cohort 2:
This option is suitable for people interested in clothing production, tailoring and the wider fashion industry.
AI is increasingly being used across business, technology and other sectors. Training in this area can help participants develop skills relevant to the growing digital economy.
Make-up and beauty services can provide opportunities for self-employment and small business development, particularly within the beauty and creative industries.
Applicants should select the skill that best matches their interests and career goals.
At the moment, Oyo State is the only location officially confirmed for the current NPRGS Cohort 2 application. The application form is specifically for the Oyo Phase, with training taking place in Ibadan, Oyo State.
However, interested applicants should keep in mind that more states and additional training cohorts may be announced as the programme progresses. Applicants who are outside Oyo State should therefore watch for further updates before assuming that they are not eligible for a future phase.
We will update this page as soon as new states, training locations or additional NPRGS cohorts are officially published.
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Interested applicants can apply online using the current Cohort 2 application form.
NPRGS Cohort 2 Application Portal:
Choose Fashion Design if that is the training area you want to pursue.
Other options currently listed include Artificial Intelligence and Make-Up.
Provide the information requested on the application form and make sure that your details are accurate.
Review your responses carefully before submitting the form.
Application opening date: 19 August 2026
Application closing date: Not yet announced
Current status: OPEN
Applicants should therefore apply as early as possible rather than waiting for a deadline that has not been officially published.
The current application information presents the programme as a Federal Government technical and vocational training initiative and does not state an application fee.
However, applicants should be cautious about third parties requesting payment in exchange for guaranteed admission.
Do not pay anyone who claims they can guarantee your selection into the NPRGS programme.
Always use the current application form and verify subsequent instructions through official programme channels.
Fashion design is more than learning how to sew clothes.
With the right training and business approach, fashion skills can become the foundation for a small enterprise.
A trained fashion entrepreneur could eventually generate income through:
Tailoring services
Bespoke clothing
Ready-to-wear garments
Fashion alterations
Uniform production
Online clothing sales
Fashion accessories
Clothing manufacturing
Apprenticeship and skills training
The fashion industry can also create opportunities beyond sewing, including fashion merchandising, styling, pattern making, clothing production and digital marketing.
For many aspiring entrepreneurs, the biggest challenge is not only access to funding but also having a marketable skill.
A person who develops a useful vocational skill can potentially start small and expand over time.
For example, someone trained in fashion design could begin by making clothes for friends and family, use social media to attract customers, reinvest profits into equipment and materials, and gradually develop a formal fashion business.
This is why vocational training programmes can complement other forms of small business support, entrepreneurship development and youth employment initiatives.
Before submitting your NPRGS application, keep the following points in mind:
Apply through the current application form.
Select your preferred training skill carefully.
Provide truthful information.
Double-check your telephone number and other contact details.
Do not submit multiple applications unless the programme specifically permits it.
Do not pay unofficial agents.
Keep a record of your application details.
Monitor official programme updates after applying.
Do not assume that completing the form guarantees selection.
Some websites may still be sharing information about the 2025 NPRGS training programme.
That earlier application was a different cohort. It targeted 1,800 Nigerian youths across six locations and included training areas such as tailoring and fashion design in some states.
The old application form should not be confused with the current Cohort 2 application.
The 2026 Cohort 2 application uses a new application form, so applicants should use the current link provided above.
Yes. The current NPRGS Cohort 2 application is being advertised as open, and Fashion Design is listed among the available skills.
The current application information was published on 19 August 2026.
No verified closing date has been announced in the information reviewed. Applicants should apply as early as possible.
Yes. Fashion Design is one of the three skills currently listed for Cohort 2, alongside Artificial Intelligence and Make-Up.
The current application form is available online through the NPRGS Cohort 2 Google Form:
Application Portal:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1QiskHiBWfDU89daDzZuthqf18a7ttYTj3GjwshQf0Cs/viewform?edit_requested=true
No. The 2025 application was an earlier cohort. Applicants interested in the current opportunity should use the 2026 Cohort 2 application form instead.
The NPRGS Fashion Design Technical & Vocational Upskilling Training 2026 offers an opportunity for interested Nigerians to develop practical skills that could support employment, self-employment and small business development.
The current Cohort 2 application is OPEN, with Fashion Design included among the available training options.
Since no verified closing date has been published, applicants should not wait for a deadline before submitting their forms.