Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to making the state the skills hub of the nation, through provision of requisite training and certification for artisans in the state.
The state commissioner of business innovation and technology, Patience Fakai, gave the governor’s position in a statement issued on Sunday, after her meeting with the Executive-Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education, NBTE, Idris Bugaje, in the state.
According to her, the effort is part of the Governor’s policy of human capital development.
Mrs Fakai disclosed that the current administration has established the skills development council, which comprises her ministry, the Ministry of Sports Development, the Ministry of Local Government Affairs, and the Ministry of Human Services and Social Development.
The commissioner disclosed that the governor was already building three Vocational and Technology Skills Acquisition Centres in the three senatorial districts of the state.
The Skills Acquisition Centres according to her, are located in Soba, Rigachukun, and Samarun Kataf in Soba, Igabi, and Zangon Kataf local governments, respectively.
The commissioner further said that the aim of these centres is “to equip the people of Kaduna State to acquire skills of the 21st century in order to be independent and self-employed”.
Mrs Fakai said that the state government was remodelling Panteka Market in Kaduna to become a major centre of skills acquisition which will engage about 40,000 artisans, adding that necessary infrastructure is being put in place in the location.
According to the commissioner, her ministry is collaborating with NBTE to provide Nigerian Skills Qualifications Framework, NSQF certification for graduates of the three skills centres and Panteka Markets.
