By Michael Onjewu, Abuja
Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to empowering women and youth through various initiatives to foster inclusivity and skill development.
The governor made this commitment during a media briefing with members of the Abuja Editors Forum at the Government House in Lafia, the state capital. The editors visited the state for an on-the-spot assessment of the administration’s projects and programs since 2019.
Sule said his administration launched the state’s Gender Document, marking a significant step in promoting women’s leadership and participation in governance.
“Nasarawa State is a pacesetter when it comes to women taking the lead in leadership and careers,” he said, citing the historic appointments of the first female Chief Justice and Vice Chancellor of the state university.
The governor also emphasized the importance of skill acquisition programs for youth and retirees, noting that these initiatives are designed to equip citizens with practical skills for employment.
“We want to produce skilled citizens of Nasarawa State who can fill the gaps in the job market,” he added.
As part of the visit, the Abuja Editors Forum toured the Wing Commander Abdullahi Ibrahim Vocational and Technology Institute in Lafia, which was established by the Governor Sule’s administration to provide skills training for women and youth in various fields, including electrical/electronics, welding/fabrication, motor mechanics, block making, plumbing, carpentry, ICT, culinary arts, tailoring, leather works, barbering, and hairdressing.
“The mandate of this institute is to train women, youth, civil servants, retirees, the elderly, and vulnerable individuals who aspire to be self-sufficient and provide for their families with contemporary and marketable skills,” said Daniel Ewuga Asele, Executive Director of the Institute, while guiding the media team on a tour of the institute’s departments and workshops.
Dr. Asele noted that within two years of its founding, the institute has trained over 8,000 citizens in valuable vocational skills.
“According to our tracking mechanism, all those trained are utilizing the skills they learned for personal development and the betterment of their communities,” he noted.
The director added that the governor provided each graduate of the institute with a starter pack ranging from N200,000 to N500,000 to enable them to start their businesses.
Photos of the vocational institute:
