The Kano state government has revived 11 of its 26 entrepreneurship institutes, which had been inactive for years, with 6,400 youths and women now enrolled in training programs across the state. The institutes were once regarded as dormant public assets, but are now being repositioned as hubs of opportunity where beneficiaries can acquire skills, establish enterprises, and contribute to the state's economy. Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has made the revival of these centers a cornerstone of his development agenda.
The latest phase of the program has admitted 6,400 beneficiaries through a digital portal introduced in July 2023. The beneficiaries are divided into two cohorts of Batch A and Batch B, each with 3,200 participants. According to the state's Commissioner for Livestock Development and member of the Steering Committee on Entrepreneurship Institutes, Dr. Aliyu Isah Aliyu, Batch A commenced training last week in eight institutes.
The eight institutes where training has commenced include the Informatics Institute, Poultry Institute, Driving Institute, Entrepreneurship Institute, Hospitality Institute, Journalism Institute, Fisheries Institute, and Livestock Institute. The remaining three institutes - Corporate Security, Film, and Horticulture - are expected to begin training within two weeks, bringing the total number of institutes in the current cycle to 11.
The Steering Committee was directed by the Governor to ensure transparency in the admission process by making sure that applications and screening were conducted through an online portal, with officials emphasizing merit, fairness, and equal opportunity. The digital system was designed to eliminate bias and ensure inclusivity.
For institutes requiring boarding arrangements, such as Livestock, Informatics, Fisheries, and Poultry, the government has made provisions for accommodation, feeding, and training equipment. The administration has also pledged empowerment packages for all 3,200 Batch A beneficiaries, enabling them to translate acquired skills into viable economic opportunities.
One notable feature of the program is the high participation of women, which Dr. Aliyu described as a deliberate effort to expand access to economic opportunities for women, strengthen households, and promote self-reliance. The initiative is also designed to run in cycles, with another 3,200 beneficiaries under Batch B to be enrolled across the same institutes once Batch A completes its training.
The revival of the institutes reflects the administration's broader focus on human capital development, with the aim of tackling unemployment and fostering economic resilience. Governor Yusuf has emphasized that reviving the institutes is only the first step, and ensuring they remain functional, adequately equipped, and continuously populated with beneficiaries is what gives the initiative its true meaning.
Key points
- 6,400 youths and women have been enrolled in training programs across 11 entrepreneurship institutes in Kano state.
- The institutes were revived after years of inactivity, with the aim of equipping citizens with practical skills and promoting economic resilience.
- The program has a high participation of women, with the aim of expanding access to economic opportunities and promoting self-reliance.
