Governor Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State has personally sponsored the training of 50 youths, using his own funds, in a programme aimed at turning practical skills into sustainable livelihoods.
The two-week training will equip beneficiaries with skills in mobile phone repairs, as well as solar installation and maintenance. At the end of the programme, participants are expected to receive start-up kits to help them begin work immediately.
The governor has engaged Engr. Yahaya Dogondaji, a university graduate who chose to build a career in mobile phone repairs, as facilitator of the programme.
This is a welcome initiative. It is more than a training exercise.
I have known Dogondaji for over 25 years and grew up with him in the Tudun Wada area of Sokoto metropolis. The engineer’s journey shows that practical skills can lead to self-reliance and economic independence.
Although he holds a university degree, Yahaya chose to pursue his passion for technology rather than wait for a white-collar job.
In deed, the provision of start-up kits is particularly significant. Acquiring skills is only the first step and having the right tools can help turn knowledge into a business.
The real success of the initiative will depend on how effectively the beneficiaries use these opportunities to establish themselves.
Dogondaji’s story offers an important lesson for young people: a university degree does not have to mean waiting endlessly for office employment. With determination, practical skills and the right support, he said, young people can create opportunities for themselves and contribute to their communities.
I only hope that the 50 beneficiaries will take full advantage of the opportunity and convert their training into sustainable livelihoods.
Usman Mohammed Binji is the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Sokoto State Council.
