Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has approved ₦200,000 for each of the 4,050 graduates of the Kaduna State Institute of Vocational Training and Skills Development. This totals ₦810 million to help them move from training to real work.
The governor made this announcement on Thursday at the first graduation ceremony of the Institute. The event took place at the Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa Campus in Rigachikun.
He said the money will be managed by the Kaduna State Enterprise Development Agency (KADENSA). This fund will help beneficiaries buy tools they need for work, provide initial capital, pay registration fees, or cover transport costs while they look for jobs.
Mr Sani noted that this initiative is part of his administration's bigger plan to help young people become self-reliant. They want to turn vocational skills into businesses that can last.
"We are also working with companies and industries to create chances for direct jobs, apprenticeships, internships, mentorships, subcontracting, and other opportunities," the governor said.
He added that the state is creating a digital platform to link graduates with employers and check their job outcomes.
"Our measure of success will go beyond just numbers of enrolments and graduations. It will be about how many graduates get jobs, how many businesses are started, how incomes are improved, contracts won, and communities lifted," he said.
The governor said these graduates, who have qualified for National Skills Qualification Level II, represent "a new generation of skilled citizens" ready to add value for themselves, their families, communities, and the economy.
He stated that the Institute was set up to give residents skills that are useful in Kaduna, competitive in Nigeria, and relevant globally.
The graduates learned in 14 different areas, including electrical installation, welding and fabrication, aluminium work, computer repairs, catering, masonry, refrigeration, fashion design, carpentry, painting, tiling, plumbing, solar installation, and automotive work.
According to the governor, training at the Institute focuses on practical skills, alongside theory, literacy, numeracy, entrepreneurship, and soft skills.
He mentioned that the Institute has three campuses: the Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa Campus in Rigachikun, Abubakar Dangiwa Umar Campus in Soba, and Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa Campus in Samaru Kataf.
Mr Sani said the partnership with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) helps the Institute deliver training based on National Occupational Standards and award National Skills Qualifications under the Nigerian Skills Qualifications Framework.
He stressed that all training across the three campuses is free, with special focus on women, people with disabilities, and youth from underserved areas.
The governor also talked about the Kaduna State Council on Skills, which he leads. This council aims to strengthen skills acquisition and development in the state.
He said Vice President Kashim Shettima and the National Council on Skills have praised Kaduna's approach. They called the "Kaduna Model" a good example of grassroots skills acquisition.
Mr Sani also revealed that at the 6th National Construction Artisans Award in Abuja in February 2026, a trainee from the Institute, Ibrahim Abubakar Jikamshi, won first place in welding and was named Overall Best Artisan of the Year.
The governor thanked President Bola Tinubu for his support. He recalled that the President officially opened the Institute in June 2025. This showed his belief in the youth of Kaduna and the state government's commitment to turning their potential into real success.
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