Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, has declared that his administration is turning Katsina into one of Nigeria’s foremost centres for technical and vocational education, unveiling major achievements recorded by the Katsina Youth Craft Village (KYCV) as the world commemorates the 2026 World Youth Skills Day.
Speaking on Wednesday in Katsina, the governor said this year’s theme, “Skills for a Shared Future,” reinforces the need to equip young people with technical, digital, green and entrepreneurial skills capable of driving economic growth and sustainable development.
Radda maintained that skills acquisition remains the bedrock of wealth creation, noting that empowered youths become employers of labour, establish thriving businesses and help lift families out of poverty.
Highlighting the state’s progress, the governor disclosed that KYCV has recorded remarkable milestones in 2026, including the certification of 40 instructors as Quality Assurance Assessors and the approval of five former COSDEC centres by the Federal Ministry of Education as accredited training centres under the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF).
He also revealed that KYCV developed competency-based training manuals for 29 trades in line with national occupational standards, a feat that earned commendation from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), which described the manuals as a benchmark for vocational institutions across the country.
According to Radda, the state has abandoned the traditional classroom-only approach in favour of practical, competency-based learning that equips trainees with hands-on experience required in today’s labour market.
“Too many graduates leave school without the practical skills needed to perform the jobs they were trained for. We are changing that in Katsina by ensuring our youths train with modern equipment and graduate ready for work,” the governor stated.
In a further boost to innovation, Radda said KYCV has established an Innovation Department dedicated to research, product development and digital fabrication, while also partnering with Maglush Electric Vehicles to train young people in emerging electric vehicle technology.
The governor explained that beyond skills training, his administration is creating pathways to employment through entrepreneurship programmes and strategic partnerships with government agencies and the private sector to connect graduates with job and business opportunities.
He noted that thousands of young people are currently undergoing training in dozens of vocational trades across KYCV’s three main campuses and five accredited skills training centres.
Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to youth development, Governor Radda said Katsina would continue investing in skills acquisition to produce a globally competitive workforce capable of driving industrialisation and economic transformation.
He joined the international community in celebrating the 2026 World Youth Skills Day, pledging sustained support for initiatives that will empower young people and secure a prosperous future for the state.
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