Kaduna: The Kaduna State Government has announced its investment in education and youth empowerment as part of its strategy to develop human capital and create sustainable employment opportunities. The Commissioner for Information and Culture, Malam Ahmad Maiyaki, revealed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Kaduna.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Maiyaki stated that the government has allocated 25 per cent of its budget to education, focusing on infrastructure and accreditation of courses at state-owned institutions. Kaduna State University (KASU) received over N300 million to secure accreditation for approximately 57 courses from the National Universities Commission. Furthermore, the government has reduced tuition fees by 50 per cent and allocated around N1.3 billion for local and international scholarships.
To address population growth and inadequate classroom facilities, the administration has constructed 75 new junior and secondary schools across communities. Maiyaki noted that over 500,000 students who took the NECO and WAEC examinations have been sponsored by the state government over the last three years. Additionally, the government established three vocational skills development centres in Soba, Rigachikun, and Samaru Kataf, equipped with modern facilities that trained 4,050 individuals in 14 trades during their first graduation.
Maiyaki disclosed that N810 million was approved as start-up grants for the 4,050 graduates, with funds already disbursed to beneficiaries. The centres aim to train 32,000 individuals annually, with a focus on skills development to tackle unemployment and create economic opportunities. The beneficiaries include PhD holders, retired civil servants, graduates, and individuals without secondary education.
The Federal Ministry of Education has approached Kaduna to adopt its technical and vocational education and training curriculum as a national framework. Kaduna is the only subnational entity with a functional skills council chaired by the governor, which regularly assesses skills needs and employment opportunities.
Linking unemployment to insecurity, Maiyaki emphasized that many youths involved in criminal activities lack sustainable employment opportunities. Thus, the government has prioritized vocational training alongside conventional university education to promote self-reliance among young people. The administration is also revitalizing Panteka Market with road infrastructure, an ICT centre, clinic, power, and fire service facilities, describing it as Africa’s largest skill fabrication market, attracting between 38,000 and 40,000 people daily.
On agriculture, Maiyaki highlighted the Kaduna Peace Model, which has facilitated the recovery of over 500,000 hectares of farmland previously controlled by bandits and criminals. This development has enabled farmers to return to their farms, and schools and healthcare facilities in affected communities have reopened. Agriculture contributes about 42 per cent to Kaduna’s GDP, with approximately 60 per cent of the state’s farmers engaged in agricultural activities.
Agricultural activities have increased significantly over the past two years due to improved security and the return of farmers to previously inaccessible farmlands. The government has increased agricultural funding from N1.48 billion in 2023 to over N100 billion by 2026. Additionally, more than 500 trucks of fertiliser were distributed to 150,000 smallholder farmers in 2026, along with irrigation pumps and tractors to promote dry-season farming and mechanised agriculture.
Kaduna remains the leading producer of maize and tomatoes, second in soybean production, and is among Africa’s leading ginger-producing areas. The recovery of farmlands, improved infrastructure, and agricultural interventions have contributed to increased food production and lower prices, with maize prices dropping from more than N100,000 per bag to between N28,000 and N29,000 in markets like Giwa and Saminaka.
The government has recruited and trained about 1,000 forest guards to strengthen community-based security and protect reclaimed farmlands. The Kaduna Peace Model involves traditional institutions, religious leaders, youth groups, and community vigilance structures. Early warning mechanisms have helped communities identify and respond to threats before they escalate into major security challenges.
Maiyaki concluded that the government’s interventions in education, skills development, agriculture, and security are designed to improve livelihoods and promote sustainable development across Kaduna State.