Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has said skills development is critical to Nigeria’s economic renewal and social inclusion.
He spoke on Monday at the groundbreaking ceremony of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) Skill Development Centre in Rigachikun, Kaduna State.
Sani said young Nigerians possess the energy, ambition and ingenuity to contribute to economic growth, but government must create the right environment for their talents to flourish through relevant training, recognised qualifications and access to productive opportunities.
He said the commitment informed the state government’s investment in the Kaduna State Institute of Vocational Training and Skills Development.
The governor recalled that 4,050 graduates from the institute’s campuses in Rigachikun, Soba and Samaru Kataf were celebrated in August after completing training in 14 trades.
The trades, according to him, included Electrical Installation, Aluminium Fabrication, Solar Installation, Mechatronics, Computer Hardware Repairs and Maintenance, Catering and Hospitality, and Fashion Design.
Sani said the institute had secured accreditation from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) while its instructors had received training as Quality Assurance Assessors and Internal Quality Assurance Managers.
He said the measures would improve the credibility of assessment and certification and give employers greater confidence in the competence of graduates.
‘’Today, we lay the foundation for an institution that will expand opportunity, strengthen productive capacity and prepare our people for the demands of a changing economy”, he said.
He added that the NASENI centre represented a further investment in knowledge, competence and enterprise, adding that such investments would enable individuals to build sustainable livelihoods and contribute to long term prosperity.
According to the governor, the centre would complement the state’s existing human capital development initiatives, stressing however that its success would depend on its ability to respond to industry needs and equip trainees with practical skills required by employers.
Sani said the state expected the centre to provide practical training, credible certifications and clear pathways into employment and enterprise.
He also emphasised the need for inclusiveness, saying women, persons with disabilities and young people in underserved communities should have meaningful access to the opportunities created by the centre.
‘’ Access must be integral to that ambition. Women, persons with disabilities and young people in underserved communities must have meaningful opportunities to participate,’’ he added
