The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), in collaboration with the British Council and King’s Trust International, has successfully completed an eight-week employability and entrepreneurship training for 70 youths in Kano.
The initiative, known as the “Youth Sustainable Enterprise Challenge,” aimed to equip participants with essential digital, entrepreneurial, and soft skills to enhance their readiness for the business world and labor market.
During the closing ceremony in Kano, CITAD’s Executive Director, Engr. Y.Z. Ya’u, represented by Haruna Adamu Hadeja, the Community Network Coordinator, emphasized the program’s objectives.
He stated, “Participants underwent extensive training sessions and showcased their business ideas through pitches developed during the program. This initiative aims to help them harness ICT tools to drive business development.”
He further highlighted that the program addressed common challenges faced by young entrepreneurs, such as technophobia and limited ICT proficiency. He added that beneficiaries would receive seed funding to actualize their business ideas.
Isa Garba, CITAD’s Senior Program Officer and Manager of the Youth Sustainable Enterprise Challenge, commended the participants’ dedication. “This program provided a platform for young entrepreneurs to refine their business concepts and build vital connections. Eight participants with the most innovative ideas will receive N250,000 each as seed funding to launch or scale their ventures,” he explained.
The training encompassed essential skills including resource mobilization, online marketing, and foundational ICT tools crucial for business success. Garba also disclosed plans for a follow-up impact assessment to monitor the progress of beneficiaries and ensure the sustainability of their ventures.
Out of the 70 participants who presented diverse business proposals, eight outstanding ideas were selected. The beneficiaries include Haruna Ibrahim, Zainab Abideen, Khadijah Muhammad, Muhammad Bulama, Ummi A. Muhammad, Zahra’u Danlami, Hafsat Nasidi, and Saudat Bello.
Zainab Abideen, one of the beneficiaries, expressed her gratitude, saying, “This program has not only equipped me with practical skills but also boosted my confidence to establish my own business. The support from CITAD, the British Council, and King’s Trust International is truly transformative for youths like me.”
Amidst the growing challenge of youth unemployment in the country, initiatives such as the Youth Sustainable Enterprise Challenge are empowering young Nigerians to proactively shape their futures.
