Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani has approved N810 million to support 4,050 graduates of the Kaduna State Institute of Vocational Training and Skills Development as they transition from training into the workforce. The announcement was made on Thursday at the institute's inaugural graduation ceremony, held at the Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa Campus in Rigachikun. Each graduate will receive N200,000, with funds to be disbursed through the Kaduna State Enterprise Development Agency.
Purpose of the Financial Support
The governor explained that the money is intended to help graduates purchase essential tools, raise initial working capital, pay for professional registration fees, or cover transport costs while searching for employment. This initiative aims to ease the financial burden on new graduates as they embark on their careers.
Governor Sani emphasized that the state government is working directly with companies and industries to open up employment opportunities for the graduates. Additionally, his administration is building a digital platform to connect graduates with prospective employers and track their employment outcomes over time.
Institutional Framework and Training
The Kaduna State Institute of Vocational Training operates across three campuses: the Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa Campus in Rigachikun, the Abubakar Dangiwa Umar Campus in Soba, and the Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa Campus in Samaru Kataf. All training is tuition-free, with specific outreach to women, persons with disabilities, and young people from underserved communities.
The 4,050 graduates completed training in 14 trade areas, including electrical installation, welding and fabrication, aluminium fabrication, computer hardware repairs and maintenance, catering and hospitality, masonry, refrigeration and air conditioning, fashion design and garment making, carpentry and joinery, painting and decoration, tiling, plumbing and pipe fitting, solar installation, and automotive mechatronics. The curriculum blends hands-on practical work with theory, literacy, numeracy, entrepreneurship, and soft skills.
Government Commitment and Next Steps
Through a partnership with the National Board for Technical Education, the institute delivers training aligned with national occupational standards. Governor Sani confirmed that the graduates have qualified for the National Skills Qualification Level II. He also announced the establishment of the Kaduna State Council on Skills, which he chairs, to provide a long-term institutional structure for skills acquisition across the state.
Governor Sani said: "Our administration is focused on creating an ecosystem that would enable young people to become self-reliant and allow skilled workers to build sustainable enterprises." He thanked President Bola Tinubu for commissioning the institute in June 2025 and for his continued support for Kaduna State's development agenda. The approval of these funds marks a significant step in supporting the state's vocational training graduates as they enter the workforce.
