No fewer than 150 pupils from underserved communities in Lagos State will receive free vocational and creative skills training as the Nest of Dreams Children’s Foundation launches its SkillNest Technicals Summer Programme 2026 on Monday, August 3.
- +NGO to train 150 Lagos pupils in vocational skills push
The four-week holiday boot camp is designed to equip children with practical skills, creative abilities and early entrepreneurial knowledge, providing an alternative learning opportunity during the long school vacation.
The four-week holiday boot camp is designed to equip children with practical skills, creative abilities and early entrepreneurial knowledge, providing an alternative learning opportunity during the long school vacation.
The programme will expose participants to a six-pillar curriculum covering applied crafts, creative arts and practical trades. Training modules include bead making, eco-friendly paper bag production, music, dance, painting and introductory cooking, delivered through eight interactive sessions over four weeks.
Founder of the foundation, Opeyemi Kotun, said the initiative was conceived to complement classroom education by equipping children with practical life skills that promote self-reliance and creativity.
“While classroom education remains crucial, a child’s path to self-reliance requires practical skills, confidence and creative outlets.
“Through SkillNest Technicals, we are creating a safe nest where children are not only protected but equipped with hands-on abilities to build tangible products, develop teamwork and discover their hidden talents,” Kotun said.
According to the foundation, the programme is part of its broader effort to bridge educational inequality by providing children from low-income communities with access to vocational learning and mentorship at an early age.
The initiative builds on previous interventions in public schools, including Araromi Nursery and Primary School and Kiniun-Ifa Nursery and Primary School in Gbagada, where the organisation has supported pupils through education and welfare programmes.
It said the new focus on technical and vocational education reflects its commitment to long-term youth empowerment beyond the distribution of school supplies.
The foundation added that each training module would be facilitated by qualified instructors supported by assistant facilitators to ensure adequate supervision and effective learning.
The programme will culminate in an exhibition later in August, where participants will display products and creative works developed during the boot camp before parents, sponsors and community leaders.
Nest of Dreams Children’s Foundation also appealed to corporate organisations, development partners and individuals to support the initiative through sponsorships to provide training materials, nutritional support and exhibition logistics.
Established in 2025, the non-profit organisation focuses on education support, mentorship, early intervention and vocational skill development for children and young people in underserved communities across Nigeria.
