The National Income Activation Initiative (NIAI) has celebrated the graduation of its first cohort of activated participants. The ceremony took place live on Google Meet on 22 October 2026, bringing together participants, vendor partners and the NIAI team from across the country.
The cohort followed NIAI’s Learn → Activate → Earn model: hands-on classes with vendor partners, followed by real opportunities to put new skills to work and start earning.
The first cohort at a glance
- 150+ activated participants
- 8 vendor partners
- 5 industries, including Beauty & Cosmetics, ICT & Digital, and Agribusiness & Natural Resources
- 36 states + the FCT represented
“Really fun, enlightening and very impactful”
Asiya Nurudeen Zauro, an activated participant from the FCT, trained under Khuraira Cosmetics in the Beauty & Personal Care track. She admits makeup was not something she was drawn to before joining the programme.
My experience with the National Income Activation Initiative has been really fun and enlightening and very impactful, because I’ve learnt a lot about makeup. I’m someone who doesn’t really like makeup, but after these classes I’ve learnt a lot about makeup, makeup marketing, content creation — how to turn all these skills that I’ve learnt into something that I can use to activate income and opportunities.
Asiya Nurudeen Zauro, Activated Participant, FCT
Beyond learning: working towards an income
For Asiya, what sets NIAI apart is that it does not stop at the classroom. Participants get the opportunity to put what they have learnt into practice with their vendor partners and work towards earning an income.
Being selected for Income Activation is something that I’m really, genuinely grateful for, and I’m really excited about what lies ahead.
Graduation day also featured remarks from vendor partners, who introduced the participants they trained and the pathways now open to them in their industries.
From skills to sustainable income
Watch Asiya’s testimonial and highlights from graduation day in the video above. To learn more about the National Income Activation Initiative and upcoming cohorts, visit niainigeria.org.