The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the National Mass Education Commission (NMEC), in collaboration with the Katsina State Agency for Mass Education, has launched a vocational training and empowerment initiative for out-of-school youths and adults across 20 local government areas of Katsina State.
The initiative is aimed at modernising traditional skills and providing tools for self-reliance. Beneficiaries, men and women aged 15 and above, will receive practical training in trades alongside start-up kits to establish small-scale businesses. The programme is positioned as part of wider efforts to reduce unemployment and enhance economic empowerment in the region.
On Wednesday, 17 September 2025, a joint delegation of federal and state officials led by Hajiya Bilkisu Muhammad Kaikai, Executive Director of the Katsina State Agency for Mass Education, carried out an inspection tour known as the Data Capture Exercise. The exercise began in Katsina metropolis and extended to designated training centres.
Speaking during the monitoring visit, Hajiya Kaikai explained that the initial federal government allocation only covered three local government areas. She said, “After assessing the scale of need across Katsina’s 34 LGAs, we sought and obtained the approval of Governor Dikko Umar Radda to expand the programme to 17 more LGAs.”
According to her, the expansion now ensures that out-of-school youths and adults in communities across the state’s three senatorial districts will participate. She described the development as a reflection of the state government’s commitment to inclusivity and wider access.
“The empowerment scheme is not only a step toward reducing unemployment but also a strategic investment in skills development and poverty alleviation,” she added.
The initiative is expected to create new opportunities in vocational training, skill acquisition, and small business growth, contributing to long-term economic sustainability in Katsina State.