The Director-General of the National Productivity Centre (NPC), Hon. Dr. Baffa Babba Dan’agundi, has committed more than ₦37 million to a comprehensive youth empowerment initiative designed to tackle unemployment, promote entrepreneurship and equip young people with practical skills for economic independence.
The programme, being implemented in collaboration with the Kofar Dan’agundi Gyara Kayanka Association, will train and equip beneficiaries in 17 vocational and business areas as part of efforts to create sustainable livelihood opportunities and discourage idleness among youths.
The initiative will provide participants with practical training in aluminium fabrication, tailoring, welding, carpentry, vulcanising, charcoal production, boutique management, groundnut and palm oil trading, soft drinks distribution, engine oil sales, block and interlocking stone production, gas and meat businesses, poultry farming, grinding mill operations, plastics trading, solar and electrical installation, as well as automobile mechanics.
According to details of the programme, the training will last between three and six months, depending on the vocational skills selected by individual participants. Beneficiaries will also receive transportation and feeding allowances throughout the training period to support their participation.
Beyond skills acquisition, the initiative is designed to provide beneficiaries with the necessary resources to establish their own businesses after completing the training.
Successful participants will be provided with business locations and relevant equipment to enable them to put their newly acquired skills into practice, generate income and become self-reliant.
The over ₦37 million investment, which has already been released by Dan’agundi, underscores the commitment behind the initiative and its focus on moving youth empowerment beyond conventional training programmes to actual business establishment.
The programme is also expected to strengthen small-scale enterprises, stimulate economic activities within communities and provide opportunities for young people to contribute meaningfully to household incomes and local economic development.
The initiative attracted several prominent personalities and stakeholders, including the Chairman of the Kano State Special Task Force on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, Barrister Muhuyi Magaji Rimin Gado, and Islamic cleric, Sheikh Malam Ibrahim Khalil.
Representatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigeria Police Force and Department of State Services (DSS) were also in attendance, alongside Islamic scholars, community leaders, parents and other stakeholders from the Dan’agundi community.
The involvement of security and community stakeholders further highlighted the programme’s wider social objectives, particularly the need to address unemployment, discourage drug abuse and other social vices, and encourage productive engagement among young people.
With its combination of vocational training, financial support, business locations and start-up equipment, the initiative is expected to provide beneficiaries with a practical pathway from skills acquisition to entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihoods.