Elite Logistics to Train 40,000 Youths in Solar-Powered Kiosk Fabrication

Elite Logistics and Development Services Limited has announced the launch of a nationwide initiative aimed at training 40,000 Nigerian youths in the fabrication, assembly, and deployment of solar-powered kiosks, a move designed to promote sustainable entrepreneurship and expand economic opportunities across the country. The programme, which is expected to run in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, will provide beneficiaries with practical skills in carpentry, electrical wiring, solar panel installation, kiosk assembly, and basic entrepreneurship, equipping them not only to manufacture and maintain the units but also to establish small and medium-scale businesses of their own. Speaking at the unveiling ceremony in Abuja, the Group Managing Director of Elite Logistics, David Adesanya, described the initiative as a technology-driven empowerment model that responds to the pressing realities of high youth unemployment and the increasing demand for off-grid commercial solutions. He explained that the company’s solar-powered Elite Smart Kiosk is a multipurpose, modular unit capable of serving as retail outlets, ICT hubs, POS banking stations, healthcare outreach booths, multimedia centres, barbing salons, or even security posts, making it a versatile tool for micro and small-scale enterprises. According to him, the company’s goal is to train at least 1,000 youths in each state and the FCT, ensuring that local communities across the federation benefit from the opportunities the project presents. The training, which is scheduled to commence in the last quarter of 2025, will be carried out regionally and will emphasise the use of local materials and manpower to boost economic inclusion. Elite Logistics believes that the programme will stimulate a broad range of economic activities, creating jobs not just for trainees but also for carpenters, electricians, solar installers, and small-scale fabricators involved in the supply chain. The company is also exploring partnerships with government agencies and private stakeholders to support the wider adoption of the kiosks and to ensure that trainees have access to the resources needed to sustain their ventures after completion of the programme. Industry observers have welcomed the development as one of the largest private sector-led vocational training drives in Nigeria in recent years, with the potential to deliver both immediate and long-term benefits. While the initiative is expected to provide immediate skills and income opportunities for thousands of young Nigerians, it is also projected to drive medium-term growth for micro, small, and medium enterprises, especially those operating in underserved and off-grid communities where access to energy and infrastructure remains limited. Analysts, however, caution that the success of the programme will depend largely on transparent selection of beneficiaries, consistency in training standards, affordability of kiosk components, and adequate post-training support such as access to finance and market linkages. Elite Logistics has expressed optimism that the initiative will not only reduce youth unemployment but also contribute to the growth of sustainable entrepreneurship across Nigeria. By empowering thousands of young people with practical skills and tools to become solution providers rather than job seekers, the company believes the solar-powered kiosks will become a transformative model for economic empowerment and inclusive development.