Northern Pulse: NBTE trains 200 Vulnerable Kaduna Women, hails State as skills development model

By Sani Idris Abdulrahman

The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has commenced entrepreneurship and skills acquisition training for 200 vulnerable women in Kaduna State under the Uba Sani Skills Ambassadors (USSA) programme.

The Executive Secretary of NBTE, Prof. Idris Bugaje, said at the inauguration of the programme in Kaduna on Friday that the initiative was organised in collaboration with Splendor Skill Academy and the Kaduna North and Kaduna South Local Government Councils.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the beneficiaries, drawn from Kaduna North and Kaduna South Local Government Areas, will receive practical training in catering and culinary arts, cosmetology and beauty therapy, and tailoring.

The programme will culminate in the award of National Skills Qualification (NSQ) certificates.

Bugaje described Kaduna as Nigeria's leading model for skills development, attributing the feat to Gov. Uba Sani's commitment to technical and vocational education.

He said the state's investment in world-class skills acquisition centres had positioned Kaduna ahead of many institutions across the country.

"With just one term in office, Gov. Uba Sani has achieved remarkable progress in skills development.

"The three skills centres established by the governor are among the best equipped in Nigeria, with facilities that rival those found in universities of technology," he said.

The NBTE boss also commended the governor's intervention at the Panteka informal sector cluster, where about 38,000 apprentices receive training annually.

According to him, the state government has upgraded infrastructure at the cluster through the construction of roads, an ICT centre, a clinic, a fire service station and other critical facilities.

Bugaje said the Board introduced the programme as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative to complement the Kaduna State Government's efforts to empower women.

He urged the participants to remain committed, noting that successful trainees would receive National Skills Qualification certificates at different competency levels based on their performance.

"We are not training you to seek government jobs. We want you to become entrepreneurs who will create jobs for others.

"When you empower a woman, you empower a family and ultimately a nation," he said.

Bugaje disclosed that several state governments had expressed interest in replicating the initiative, adding that the Board was ready to partner with any state committed to skills development.

He also commended the chairmen of Kaduna North and Kaduna South Local Government Areas for pledging to provide starter packs to all beneficiaries after the training.

Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of Splendor Skill Academy, Mrs Zulaiha Muhammad, described the programme as the beginning of a transformative journey for vulnerable women across Kaduna State.

She said the initiative would equip participants with practical vocational and entrepreneurial skills needed to improve their livelihoods and contribute to the state's economic development.

Muhammad commended Gov. Uba Sani for prioritising women empowerment through poverty reduction and skills development programmes.

She also lauded Bugaje for championing the initiative and thanked the Kaduna North and Kaduna South Local Government Councils for supporting beneficiaries with starter packs.

According to her, skills acquisition combined with entrepreneurship remains one of the most effective pathways to economic independence.

She urged participants to remain disciplined, committed and focused throughout the training to maximise the opportunities provided by the programme.

In his welcome address, the Public Relations Officer of the Uba Sani Skills Ambassadors, Aminu Jasawa, said the programme reflected the Kaduna State Government's commitment to empowering citizens through technical and vocational education.

He said the partnership among the state government, NBTE and the private sector would further strengthen job creation and economic development in the state.

Also speaking, the Honorary Adviser to the Governor on Domestic Affairs, Baba Isa, appreciated the NBTE for supporting Kaduna's skills development agenda.

He reaffirmed Gov. Uba Sani's commitment to expanding opportunities for women and youths through sustainable empowerment programmes before declaring the training programme open.

NAN reports that the beneficiaries will receive starter packs at the end of the training to enable them establish their own businesses.