The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), in partnership with the Network for Youth Enlightenment and Development (N-YED), has launched a digital skills initiative aimed at supporting out-of-school youth in Kano, seeking to improve access to technology and expand economic opportunities.
The initiative, known as the Youth Out-of-School Creativity Filter Programme, began on Saturday with its first training cohort in Medile community, where 20 participants will undergo six weeks of basic digital literacy.
Programme coordinator Ibrahim Nuhu said the project is the first structured effort in Kano to directly identify and train out-of-school youth within their communities.
“We go into communities to identify young people who never had the chance to attend school, map them, and provide digital training that can position them for self-reliance,” Nuhu said. He added that the programme aims to close long-standing digital gaps that have excluded many young people from emerging opportunities.
“Out-of-school youth have been left behind for years,” he said. “This programme gives them access to technology and the skills they need to improve their lives.”
Nuhu said the programme targets youth aged 18 to 35 who did not attend primary or secondary school, noting that community participation is central to its design.
“We want communities to take ownership of the project,” he said. “They help provide venues, identify the beneficiaries, and support logistics, while we focus on delivering the digital skills. This strengthens sustainability and ensures the programme outlives external support.”
Beyond the initial six-week training, participants will receive continued mentorship to help develop their creativity and strengthen their contribution to local development.
Speaking at the launch, N-YED Executive Director Abdulsalam Haruna Suleiman said the project began as a pilot in Medile and is expected to expand to other local government areas across the state.
He said the organisations plan to train at least 600 youth within one year following the pilot phase, and support them in linking with relevant agencies and job opportunities.
“We brought together key ministries and stakeholders to make this programme a reality,” Suleiman said. “Those selected must commit fully to the training.”
Suleiman called on the government to collaborate with the partners to scale the initiative across the state.
“We need government support to reach our targets and achieve the broader objectives of empowering out-of-school youth,” he said.