By joshua Kogi Youths Hail Governor Ododo As 315 Beneficiaries Undergo Digital Fashion Training Across 21 LGAs
CEO HER MARK
Enthusiasm and gratitude filled the training centre in Lokoja as 315 youths drawn from the 21 Local Government Areas of Kogi State expressed appreciation to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for sponsoring their participation in the ongoing Digital Fashion Design and Creative Enterprise Training Programme.
The beneficiaries, who were full of excitement, commended the Governor for providing them with an opportunity to acquire modern, market-driven skills. Instructors at the centre were also leaving no stone unturned in drilling participants through intensive practical and digital sessions.
The programme, known as the HER MARK Fashion Digital Designing Training Programme, is being implemented by THE-YEM Fashion Home under the Gov. Ahmed Usman Ododo HER MARK – Youth-based Household-Inclusive Digital Design and Creative Enterprise Program.
It is the second edition of the initiative. While the first edition, held under former Governor Yahaya Bello, covered only one Local Government Area, the current edition sponsored by Governor Ododo has been expanded to 15 beneficiaries per LGA, totalling 315 participants across the state.
Recalled that flagging off the programme in Lokoja, Chief Executive Officer of The YEM Fashion Home and Project Lead of HER MARK, Mrs. Opeyemi Bamijoko Alonge, said the training was designed to bridge the gap between traditional fashion and emerging digital technologies.
According to her, the three-month programme, which includes one month of intensive practical training, will transition participants from conventional tailoring to an AI-driven and digital skill-based enterprise model.
She listed the training modules to include Introduction to Fashion Digital Designing, Design with CorelDRAW/Illustrator, Monogram Design, Product Make-up and Branding, Design for DTF, Flex and Sublimation Printing, Portfolio Development, and Business and Freelance Opportunities.
“Digital fashion design means that the world is changing. You acquire a skill that you can use to make money even from the comfort of your home. Even if you do not have the money to rent a shop, you can use your computer or phone to design and sell,” she said.
Mrs. Alonge disclosed that her two-year training experience through the United Nations inspired the initiative. She recalled that beneficiaries of the first cohort received industrial machines and N500,000 each from government to start their businesses, expressing optimism that similar support would be extended to the current set who will also receive starter packs, machines and laptops.
Also speaking, Consultant and Lead Monitoring and Evaluation Officer for the HER MARK programme at MOTRAC Global Resources Limited, Oluwaseun Aiyejoto Alabi, said the project goes beyond basic vocational training.
He said the consulting firm adopted a framework built on continuity, sustainability, scalability and artificial intelligence to enable beneficiaries compete beyond Kogi State and tap into the global freelance economy.
He explained that the programme combines practical fashion skills with AI, digital tools, business development and guidance on transitioning into the digital economy.
On sustainability, Alabi disclosed a grassroots multiplier model where each beneficiary will return to their community after training to train 10 additional youths within two weeks. If fully implemented, the 315 beneficiaries will extend the skills to 3,150 more young people across the state.
“Our guiding principle is simple: You see, you try, and then you share. We want them to learn, practice and then share their knowledge,” he said.
He added that some of the instructors handling the current training are beneficiaries of the first cohort who have established their own businesses, a testament to the programme’s impact.
The first week of the training combines classroom instruction, live demonstrations, hands-on exercises and digital learning sessions facilitated by industry-active instructors.
The HER MARK programme is expected to significantly boost youth empowerment in Kogi State by expanding access to digital skills, promoting entrepreneurship and helping young people convert creative talents into sustainable economic opportunities, with each beneficiary expected to train 10 others to deepen grassroots skills development.