Uba Sani approves N810m take-off grant for 4,050 skills graduates

Gov. Uba Sani of Kaduna State has approved N200,000 each, for 4,050 graduates of the state’s vocational training institute.

The governor announced the N810 million support on Thursday at the maiden graduation ceremony of the Kaduna State Institute of Vocational Training and Skills Development.

The ceremony was held at the Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa Campus of the institute in Rigachikun, Kaduna State.

Sani said the fund would be administered through the Kaduna State Enterprise Development Agency (KADSEDA).

He said the financial support would help graduates purchase essential tools and provide seed capital for their initial working needs.

According to him, beneficiaries may also use the money for professional registration or transportation while seeking employment opportunities.

Sani said the state government was engaging companies and industries to create direct employment, apprenticeships, internships and mentorship opportunities for graduates.

He added that the government was also pursuing subcontracting and other structured engagements to link graduates with relevant industries.

“We are also developing a digital platform to connect graduates with employers and track employment outcomes,” Sani said.

He said the success of the programme would be measured by employment created, enterprises established, improved incomes, contracts secured and communities transformed.

The governor said the graduates, having qualified for National Skills Qualification Level II, represented a new generation of skilled and productive citizens.

He said the administration was building an ecosystem where young people could become self-reliant and women could transform acquired skills into sustainable enterprises.

Sani added that the administration was also creating opportunities for persons living with disabilities and artisans to participate fully in the economy.

He said the institute had three campuses: Rigachikun, Soba and Samaru Kataf, serving different communities across the state.

According to him, the institute was established to equip citizens with practical skills useful in Kaduna, competitive nationally and relevant globally.

He said the training combined practical lessons with theory, literacy, numeracy, entrepreneurship and soft skills across 14 trade areas.

The areas include electrical installation, welding and fabrication, aluminium fabrication, computer hardware repairs, catering and hospitality, masonry, refrigeration and air conditioning.

Others are fashion design, garment making, carpentry and joinery, painting and decoration, tiling, plumbing, solar installation and automotive mechatronics.

Sani said the institute’s partnership with the National Board for Technical Education enabled training based on National Occupational Standards.

He added that the partnership also allowed the institute to award National Skills Qualifications under the Nigerian Skills Qualifications Framework.

The governor emphasised that training across the three campuses remained tuition-free, with special attention given to women, persons with disabilities and underserved communities.

He said his administration had also inaugurated the Kaduna State Council on Skills, which he chairs, to strengthen skills acquisition and development.

Sani said Vice President Kashim Shettima and the National Council on Skills had recognised Kaduna’s pioneering approach as a model for grassroots skills development.

He disclosed that Kaduna trainee, Ibrahim Jikamshi, emerged first in welding and Overall Best Artisan of the Year at the 2026 National Construction Artisans Award.

The governor thanked President Bola Tinubu for supporting his administration, recalling that the president inaugurated the institutes in June 2025.

Sani said Tinubu’s support demonstrated confidence in Kaduna’s young people and the state government’s determination to transform their potential into productive power.