Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State is aiming to produce a skilled workforce that will not only make youths self-reliant but also enable technology companies to employ them after acquiring relevant skills.
The Commissioner for 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 was focused on human capital development.
Mrs. Fakai said that Governor Sani has constructed three skills acquisition cities in Soba, Rigachikun, and Samarun Kataf towns, situated in zones 1, 2 and 3 senatorial districts, respectively.
“Together, these three skills 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 said.
Skills that will be taught, according to her 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.’’
The commissioner further said that the governor wanted 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.
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 due to the skills they had learnt.
The commissioner also said that her ministry had organised career fairs in collaboration with Jobberman and Mastercard Foundation, which connected over 300 job seekers with employers
‘Fakai said the state government has trained 5,100 women in ICT, which was tagged AREWA LADIES-, in collaboration with Data Science Nigeria (DSN) and Google.org.
She said: “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.
Fakai further stressed 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 (NCCDE) gave the state the 2nd runner-up award for human capital development in ICT last year.
‘’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.
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