Kaduna: Skills Acquisition Is Our Pathway To Self Reliance – Commissioner

Governor Uba Sani aims to produce a skilled workforce that will not only make youths to be self reliant but will enable tech companies to employ them after acquiring relevant skills.

The Commissioner of Business Innovation and Technology, Mrs Patience Fakai, who made this known at the quarterly ministerial briefing held at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, also explained that the governor is focused on Human Capital Development.

Mrs Fakai said Governor Uba Sani has constructed three Skills Acquisition Cities in Soba town, Rigachikun and Samarun Kataf towns, situated in zones 1, 2 and 3 senatorial districts respectively.

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‘’Together, these three skills cities are expected to graduate 12,000 youths in the first year and 24, 000 by the second year of operation in 13 trade areas,’’ she added.

According to her, some of the skills that will be taught include welding, aluminium fabrication, fashion design and solar panels installation, adding that ‘’our youths will also get certifications and we are partnering with NBTE for this programme.

‘’We hope that most of our unemployed youths who undergo this training will be self reliant or be engaged by reputable companies. This is a way of creating jobs,’’ she added.

The Commissioner also said that the Governor wants to transform the Panteka Market into an industrial hub, adding that it has about 38,000 artisans working in such areas as welding and fabrication, carpentry and joinery as well as masonry.

‘’The Governor, in his benevolence, saw the need for the market to be remodelled. He is providing ICT facilities for them and roads network, he is also providing a clinic and a fire station,’’ she further said.

Mrs Fakai further disclosed that the Panteka artisans will also get the National Skills Qualification Framework certification ‘’from the Skills Cities which will enable them to upscale because they already have the relevant skills.’’

The Commissioner also said that her Ministry had organised Career Fairs in ‘’collaboration with Jobberman and Mastercard Foundation, that connected over 300 job seekers with employers.’’

‘’Jobberman has also set up Job Centres both up in the north and southern parts of the state. These centres provide the youth the opportunity to check if there are available jobs and whether they are eligible to apply.

‘’The Job Centres guide them in the application process, especially on how to write compelling CVs. The Centres also advises them on jobs that align with their skills,’’ she added.

According to the Commissioner, Kaduna State Government has ‘’trained 5,100 women in ICT, which was tagged AREWA LADIES-4-TECH, in collaboration with Data Science Nigeria (DSN) and Google.org.’’

The Commissioner of Business Innovation and Technology also disclosed that ‘’we have success stories of over 60 women that have gotten employment in various sectors after the training.’’

She further said that her Ministry enabled the training of 500 children by UNICEF and the trainees were supported with starter-packs, adding that 22 children who are in conflict with the law were also trained in shoemaking and barbering.

Mrs Fakai further said that Kaduna State hosted the third Nigeria Computer Society Summit to promote ICT knowledge and innovation, adding that the National Council on Communication and Digital Economy gave the state the 2nd runner-up award for Human Capital Development in ICT last year.

The Commissioner further said that ‘’we also the first state in the country to launch the AI and Digital Literacy Content in Hausa in order to bridge the digital divide.

‘’Kaduna State received the National Broadband Alliance of Nigeria (NBAN) Award of Excellence for her efforts in deepening broadband penetration by being the first to grant a free right of way for broadband infrastructure in February 2025.

‘’We are among the three states in the federation to receive a special commendation from the Gates Foundation on strides in AI, with special funding commitment by the foundation,’’ Mrs Fakai added