By DAYO ADESULU
Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), in partnership with the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), is set to launch a major youth empowerment initiative targeting 3,400 young Nigerians across Kano, Jigawa and Sokoto states.
The initiative, known as the Youth Employability and Skills Project (YESP), seeks to equip adolescents and young people with practical vocational, digital, green and entrepreneurial skills to improve their employment opportunities and promote sustainable livelihoods.
The programme launch and induction training for Training Service Providers will commence on Monday, November 2, 2026, in Kano and run until Friday, November 6.
The European Union (EU) also supports the intervention as part of its Education and Youth Empowerment Programme in Northern Nigeria (EYEPINN), with UNICEF serving as one of its key development partners.
3,400 Beneficiaries to Receive Skills Training
The YESP initiative will cover 30 Local Government Areas across the three participating states, with each state having 10 participating LGAs.
According to the project details, 3,400 young people will benefit from the intervention, comprising 1,700 females and 1,700 males.
This balanced representation reflects the programme’s commitment to gender inclusion and equal access to opportunities for young Nigerians.
Beyond conventional vocational training, the project will introduce beneficiaries to digital and green skills, alongside entrepreneurship development. These areas are increasingly important in a changing labour market where technological innovation and sustainable business practices continue to create new economic opportunities.
Through the intervention, beneficiaries are expected to acquire competencies that will help them secure employment, establish businesses and explore other productive livelihood opportunities.
ITF North-West Director Pledges Support
Ahead of the official launch, the YESP implementation team, led by its Project Coordinator, Dr. Funmilayo Doherty, paid a courtesy visit to the ITF North-West Zonal Director, Engr. Sirajo Tukur, to strengthen institutional collaboration and secure support for the successful implementation of the programme.
The delegation included the ITF Area Manager for Kano State, Comrade Yunusa Otokiti; the ITF Area Manager for Dutse, Jigawa State, Mallam Aliu Ibn Zakari; programme facilitators and other members of the project team.
During the meeting, Tukur expressed satisfaction with the initiative and pledged his full support towards its successful implementation.
He emphasised the importance of youth empowerment to national development, noting that equipping young Nigerians with relevant vocational and entrepreneurial competencies would strengthen their capacity to contribute meaningfully to the economy.
His commitment also highlighted the importance of partnerships between technical institutions, government agencies and international development organisations in tackling youth unemployment and expanding economic opportunities.
Project Coordinator Explains Implementation Strategy
Speaking during the engagement, Dr. Doherty presented an overview of the YESP initiative, explaining its objectives, implementation framework and expected impact on participating communities.
She called for stronger cooperation from ITF leadership and other stakeholders to ensure the successful delivery of the project’s objectives.
Doherty explained that YABATECH would implement the project in collaboration with the ITF North-West Zonal Office and the ITF Area Offices in Kano, Jigawa and Sokoto states, with support from UNICEF and the European Union.
She further disclosed that the 30 participating LGAs would be distributed equally among the three states, with 10 LGAs in each state.
According to her, the selected communities are areas where UNICEF already collaborates with state governments under the EU-supported Education and Youth Empowerment Programme in Northern Nigeria.
She stressed that the intervention goes beyond teaching participants specific technical skills.
Rather, it seeks to develop the broader competencies young people need to access employment, establish businesses and build sustainable sources of income.
YABATECH Rector Reaffirms Commitment to Youth Empowerment
The Rector of Yaba College of Technology, Dr. Engr. Ibraheem Abdul, has continued to support initiatives that strengthen the institution’s engagement with development partners and deploy its technical expertise towards addressing national development challenges.
He noted that the YESP intervention reinforces YABATECH’s commitment to skills development, innovation and youth empowerment.
According to him, the initiative will also help create stronger connections between education, technical training, employment and entrepreneurship.
Dr. Abdul expressed confidence that the programme would contribute to human-capital development and improve the economic prospects of thousands of young Nigerians across the participating states.
Why This Matters
Youth unemployment remains a major development challenge in Nigeria, making practical skills acquisition and entrepreneurship development important pathways towards economic participation.
The YESP initiative offers an opportunity to address some of these challenges by connecting young people with relevant vocational, digital and green skills.
Importantly, its focus on both male and female beneficiaries promotes inclusive participation in economic activities.
The collaboration between YABATECH, ITF, UNICEF and the European Union also demonstrates how educational institutions, government agencies and international development partners can combine their expertise to support youth development.
If successfully implemented, the project could provide thousands of young Nigerians with practical skills that improve their chances of securing employment or establishing businesses.
With the programme targeting 3,400 beneficiaries across 30 LGAs, its implementation will be closely watched as a collaborative effort to strengthen youth employability and sustainable livelihoods in Northern Nigeria.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the Youth Employability and Skills Project (YESP)?
YESP is a youth empowerment initiative designed to equip young Nigerians with vocational, digital, green and entrepreneurial skills.
2. How many Nigerians will benefit from the programme?
A total of 3,400 adolescents and young people are expected to benefit.
3. Which states will participate in the project?
The participating states are Kano, Jigawa and Sokoto.
4. How many females and males will benefit?
The programme targets 1,700 females and 1,700 males.
5. Which organisations are implementing the project?
YABATECH is implementing the project in partnership with the ITF North-West Zonal Office and the ITF Area Offices in the participating states, with support from UNICEF and the European Union.
6. When will the programme commence?
The launch and induction training for Training Service Providers will hold from November 2 to November 6, 2026, in Kano.
Conclusion
The Youth Employability and Skills Project represents an important investment in the future of young Nigerians. By combining vocational education, digital innovation, green skills and entrepreneurship, the initiative seeks to prepare 3,400 young people for employment and sustainable economic opportunities.
Its success will depend on effective collaboration among the implementing institutions, training providers, participating communities and development partners.
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