By Bashir Ya’u
The Katsina State Government has empowered 200 youths and adults with vocational skills, starter grants and business support packages following the successful completion of the 2025 Vocational Skills Acquisition Programme organised by the Katsina State Agency for Mass Education.
Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Hon. Yusuf Sulaiman Jibia
At the graduation ceremony on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Hon. Yusuf Sulaiman Jibia, who represented Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, described the programme as a key pillar of the administration’s human capital development agenda. He said sustainable development cannot be achieved without education and employment, noting that the initiative strategically combines skills training with economic empowerment to promote self-reliance.
The Commissioner conveyed the Governor’s commitment to sustained investment in adult education, vocational training and entrepreneurship development to reduce unemployment, empower women and youths, and strengthen the state’s economy. He assured that the programme would be expanded to cover all local government areas to ensure inclusive participation, while urging beneficiaries to uphold integrity, dedication and professionalism in their trades.
Executive Secretary of the Agency for Mass Education, Hajiya Bilkisu Mohammad Kaikai
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the Agency for Mass Education, Hajiya Bilkisu Mohammad Kaikai, said the three-week programme graduated 200 male and female participants aged 18 years and above, drawn from the 34 local government areas of the state. She explained that the initiative targeted youths, women and adult learners, particularly those without formal Western education, to equip them with practical vocational skills and basic business knowledge.
According to her, trainees were empowered in various vocations, including shoe making, perfume production, cosmetics and body creams, tailoring of women’s garments and hijabs, bedspread production, liquid soap making and other income-generating skills. She commended the commitment of the participants and the dedication of the instructors, disclosing plans to scale up the programme across all zones of the state.
Also speaking, the Lead Consultant and Head of Trainers, Dr. Chucks Okehie, applauded Governor Radda’s commitment to improving the welfare of the people, describing the programme as exemplary. He noted that about 80 percent of the participants were youths and revealed that some beneficiaries invested their transport allowances in tools and materials to start businesses even before the end of the training.
Chairman of the occasion and Chief Judge of Katsina State, Justice Musa Danladi Abubakar
In his remarks, the Chairman of the occasion and Chief Judge of Katsina State, Justice Musa Danladi Abubakar, urged beneficiaries to conduct their businesses with honesty and fear of God to attain success. He called on security agencies and residents to patronise products made by the trainees and commended the state government and the Agency’s Executive Secretary for initiating a programme he said would help steer youths away from criminal activities.
At the end of the ceremony, each graduate received a certificate of completion, a ₦30,000 starter grant and a VISA-supported special work group card. Outstanding participants were also registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission, issued Tax Identification Numbers and enrolled with the Katsina State Enterprise Development Agency to enable them access interest-free loans and other business support.
The event attracted top government officials, traditional rulers and stakeholders, including the Sarkin Kurayen Katsina, Alhaji Usman Darda’u Kuraye; representatives of national and zonal mass education bodies; the Director-General of KASEDA, Dr. Babangida Ruma; and other senior officials.
Bashir Ya’u is the Media Assistant to the Katsina State Governor, Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education.
