In a move aligned with Nigeria’s broader push to tackle youth unemployment and skills deficits, the Kano State Government in North West Nigeria, has empowered more than 2,000 graduates drawn from eight skills acquisition and professional institutes across the state.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf flagged off the distribution of empowerment packages at the Government House in Kano, describing the initiative as part of a deliberate strategy to build a self-reliant, productive and economically resilient youth population.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to creating 50,000 jobs for young people, with a significant number targeted for implementation in 2026.
A total of 2,260 beneficiaries graduated from institutes revived by the Yusuf administration after years of abandonment.
According to the governor, the graduates were trained in diverse entrepreneurial and professional skills critical to Nigeria’s evolving economy, ranging from digital technology and agriculture to creative industries and journalism.
Breakdown of the beneficiaries shows that the Informatics Institute produced 750 graduates trained in computer programming, phone repairs, CCTV installation, solar technology and digital processing.
The Horticultural Institute also graduated 750 beneficiaries equipped with skills in plantation development and landscaping, supporting urban renewal and green entrepreneurship.
The Driving Institute trained 750 youths in professional driving, road safety and traffic regulations, aimed at improving employment prospects and road safety nationwide.
The Livestock Institute graduated 205 beneficiaries in its third cycle, bringing its total to 485 trainees skilled in modern livestock management, while the Fisheries Institute produced another batch of graduates focused on aquaculture and food security.
In the creative sector, the Film Institute (FIM Academy) graduated 300 beneficiaries trained in storytelling and content production to support Nigeria’s growing cultural and creative industries.
The Poultry Institute in Tukwi, Makurdi Local Government Area, graduated its first cycle of 600 female beneficiaries trained in poultry farming to boost food production and rural incomes.
The Development Journalism Institute also produced 200 graduates trained to strengthen credible and informed media practice.
As part of the empowerment package, beneficiaries received tools and starter kits relevant to their training, including laptops, phone repair kits, tablets, agricultural equipment, poultry inputs, fisheries supplies and professional driving certificates.
Each beneficiary also received a cash grant of ₦50,000, while graduates of the Driving Institute received ₦100,000 each.
Governor Yusuf said the programme was an investment in human capital and a direct response to poverty, unemployment and youth restiveness, noting that similar initiatives are being implemented across sectors to support national development goals.
The governor also announced the resolution of outstanding tuition debts owed to a university in Cyprus, enabling Kano-sponsored students to finally receive their certificates.
He further restated his pledge of automatic employment for graduates of medicine, allied health sciences and engineering upon completion of their national service.
Speaking at the event, the Kano State Commissioner for Finance and Chairman of the Steering Committee for the Entrepreneurship Institutes, Dr. Ismail Danmaraya, commended the governor’s policies, saying the initiative would have long-term positive effects on the state economy and contribute to Nigeria’s overall workforce development.
The Kano empowerment programme mirrors a growing trend among states seeking to complement federal efforts by investing in skills development as a pathway to inclusive economic growth across the country.