Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, has approved the Quality Assurance Assessor (QAA) Certification Training for staff of the Katsina Youth Craft Village (KYCV), marking another step toward strengthening skills development and improving training and certification standards in the state.
The programme, which is to be implemented in partnership with the National Board for Technical Education, will see thirty instructors of the Katsina Youth Craft Village trained and certified as Quality Assurance Assessors under the Nigeria Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF).
The approval and official flag-off of the initiative took place at the KYCV Centre in Katsina, with government officials, education stakeholders, and technical experts in attendance. The training is designed to ensure that skills acquisition programmes in the state meet recognised national standards and deliver credible, industry-relevant certifications.
Under Governor Radda’s administration, KYCV is being fully aligned with the Skills and Vocational Training Law as well as the National Occupational Standards through the establishment of a comprehensive Quality Assurance system. This system includes Quality Assurance Assessors (QAA), Internal Quality Assurance Managers (IQAM), and External Quality Assurance Managers (EQAM).
Within the framework, assessors are responsible for conducting training and generating learner evidence, while QAAs validate assessment tools and decisions, sample evidence, and ensure full compliance with the NSQF. IQAMs independently review processes, verify consistency, implement corrective actions, and produce internal quality assurance reports. EQAMs, on the other hand, provide external oversight, validate compliance, and recommend system-wide improvements.
This integrated QAA–IQAM–EQAM structure is expected to guarantee credible certification, standardised assessment, accountability, and continuous quality improvement across KYCV and its coordinated training centres.
Speaking at the event, the Honourable Commissioner for Higher Education, Hon. Adnan Nahabu, described the programme as a major milestone in raising the quality of technical and vocational education in Katsina State.
“This programme takes our skills training from access to excellence. Development and employability depend on strong standards and well-trained personnel, not just buildings and equipment,” he said.
He explained that Quality Assurance Assessors play a critical role in ensuring that training, assessment, and certification processes meet both national and international benchmarks.
“Assessors protect the value of certificates and the relevance of skills. Without quality assurance, training loses its meaning. This is why the Governor’s decision is timely and forward-looking,” Nahabu added.
The commissioner also commended Governor Radda for repositioning KYCV as a hub for youth empowerment and industrial skills, highlighting key reforms already underway at the institution.
According to him, these reforms include NBTE recognition of KYCV as an NSQF training provider, the integration of six Community Skills Development Centres into the KYCV system, extensive renovation of facilities, and the procurement of modern tools and equipment valued at over ₦3.5 billion.
He further praised the growing partnership between the Katsina State Government and NBTE, noting that the Board’s regulatory guidance is helping to align KYCV programmes with National Occupational Standards and the NSQF.
The KYCV Centre Coordinator, Engr. Kabir Abdullahi Kofar Soro, described the QAA Certification Training as a landmark achievement for the institution.
“This programme lays the human foundation for all the investments in infrastructure and equipment. It marks a clear shift to quality-driven training and credible certification,” he said.
Engr. Kofar Soro explained that the training will be conducted in phases, consisting of two weeks of intensive instruction, three months of field practice, and a final consolidation stage to ensure practical application of acquired knowledge.
He thanked Governor Radda for the confidence reposed in KYCV and appreciated NBTE for its continued technical support, noting that additional instructors and quality managers would be trained to strengthen monitoring systems.
The QAA Certification Programme is expected to significantly improve training quality, strengthen the credibility of assessments, and enhance the employability of graduates in Katsina State, while firmly positioning KYCV in line with national and international best practices in technical and vocational education.
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