Kaduna govt reaffirms commitment to youth empowerment through digital skills

The Kaduna State Government has reiterated its strong commitment to youth empowerment by investing in digital skills, technical training, and human capital development.

Speaking at an event to mark the 2025 World Youth Skills Day, the Deputy Governor, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, emphasized the importance of equipping young people with the tools to thrive in a fast-evolving digital world.

Represented by the Special Adviser on Human Capital, Alhaji Sagir Balarabe, she said the administration of Governor Uba Sani has made human capital development a priority.

“Digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and automation are reshaping how we live, work, and connect,” she said.

“To prepare our youth, we are investing in education, vocational training, and digital empowerment.”

Dr. Balarabe highlighted the ongoing construction of three world-class skills development centers across Kaduna’s senatorial zones.

She also referenced the recent commissioning of the Skills Acquisition Institute in Rigachikun by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a key milestone in the state’s empowerment agenda.

“These centres will serve as hubs for innovation and opportunity, equipping young people with globally competitive skills,” she said, adding that the government is partnering with development agencies to scale up training in ICT, entrepreneurship, and artificial intelligence.

Also speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Youth Development, Barrister Gloria Ibrahim, noted that World Youth Skills Day, celebrated annually on July 15, marks its 10th anniversary this year.

She described it as more than a symbolic date but a call to action in a technology-driven world.

“With the theme ‘Youth Empowerment Through AI and Digital Skills,’ we recognize that artificial intelligence, coding, data science, and digital literacy are now essential life skills,” she stated.

Barrister Ibrahim added that Kaduna’s youth must be empowered not just to adapt but to lead and innovate in the face of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

She commended Governor Uba Sani for placing youth development at the core of the state’s development agenda, aligning Kaduna’s future with global digital trends.