From Kamilu Lawal, Katsina.
The Katsina State Government has empowered no fewer than 1,000 girls with vocational skills and start-up tools, reaffirming its commitment to girl-child development and economic empowerment
The beneficiaries graduated from a state-supported skills acquisition programme at a ceremony held in Katsina, attended by Governor Malam Dikko Umaru Radda.
Speaking at the event, Governor Radda said the initiative was designed to equip young girls with practical, market-relevant skills capable of guaranteeing economic independence and reducing poverty.
He described girl-child empowerment as a cornerstone of his administration’s human capital development agenda.
According to the governor, empowering girls with skills and productive tools would not only improve their livelihoods but also strengthen families and contribute to sustainable socio-economic growth across the state.
The beneficiaries, who underwent training in various vocational fields, received certificates of completion alongside specialised working tools to enable them to immediately engage in productive ventures.
In her remarks, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Girl-Child Education and Child Development, Hajiya Jamila Abdu Mani, said the programme was structured to go beyond skills acquisition by linking beneficiaries to employment, leadership development and long-term economic opportunities.
She disclosed that the state government, in partnership with a Katsina-based entrepreneurial firm, Green House Katsina, would engage 300 of the graduates for advanced training and employment, a move aimed at further strengthening their capacity and contribution to the local economy.
Hajiya Jamila described the initiative as a practical demonstration of the government’s commitment to inclusive development, particularly in empowering young women to become self-reliant and active contributors within their communities.
She added that the SkillsAcquisition Programme remains a key intervention of the Katsina State Government in addressing youth unemployment, improving livelihoods and promoting sustainable economic development across the state.
