Training Program for 3,400 Youths Launched in Northern Nigeria

A training program called the Youth Employability and Skills Project has started for 3,400 young people in Kano, Jigawa, and Sokoto states. The goal is to provide them with skills that will help them find jobs, start businesses, and build sustainable livelihoods.

This initiative is supported by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the European Union (EU). It is being carried out by Yaba College of Technology in collaboration with the Industrial Training Fund. The project was officially launched on Monday in Kano, where participants learned about various important topics, including skills qualifications and preventing sexual exploitation.

According to Dr. Funmilayo Doherty, the Project Coordinator, the program will benefit 3,400 young people across 30 local government areas. This includes 1,200 participants from Kano and 1,100 each from Jigawa and Sokoto. She emphasized the need for employers to offer internships and job opportunities to help these young people apply what they learn.

Dr. Doherty noted that Nigeria’s large youth population could greatly aid the country’s economic growth if they gain skills that meet job market demands. She stated, “Nigeria’s greatest asset is its young population,” and highlighted the importance of equipping them for future job opportunities.

She also mentioned that special focus would be placed on young women and vulnerable youths to ensure they have access to the training. Shafeeq Ur Rehman, UNICEF’s representative in Kano, expressed that the partnership shows a commitment to investing in youth as key contributors to economic growth.

Additionally, Dr. Ibraheem Abdul, the Rector of Yaba College of Technology, indicated that the college aims to reach 18,000 young people through various skills programs, reinforcing its commitment to technical education and economic empowerment.

The YESP will provide training in a variety of areas, including digital skills, green technologies, vocational skills, and entrepreneurship, while also helping participants find jobs and develop their own businesses.