Fifteen young Nigerians have successfully completed a youth leadership training programme organised by the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) in Kano.
The graduation ceremony, held at CITAD’s office, marked the conclusion of the first batch of the Youth Leadership Development Programme (YouLead), designed to equip young people with entrepreneurial and leadership skills to combat growing youth unemployment.
Speaking at the event, CITAD’s Executive Director, Engr. Y.Z. Yau, explained that the programme was developed in response to the high rate of youth joblessness.
Read Also:
NBTE Team Assesses Eleven Programmes at Audu Bako College of Agriculture
“We are here to witness the graduation of the first batch of the YouLead programme, where 15 young participants received intensive training and incubation support to develop their business ideas—whether in the private sector or in social enterprise,” he said.
Engr. Yau noted that the trainees also participated in internship placements with various organisations to gain practical experience and understand workplace dynamics.
“For us, the gain is that this idea is working. When we began, they came daily for lectures as if they were in a classroom. We recognized their unemployment status and offered transport support to encourage participation,” he said.
He reiterated that CITAD’s support does not end with graduation. “We will continue to monitor their progress, provide guidance, further training, and link them with opportunities such as business grants.”
Some of the graduates shared testimonies of how the programme transformed their lives by helping them acquire skills and start earning independently.
Habiba Usman Hassan, one of the graduates, now runs a small restaurant offering traditional dishes. “Before this programme, I didn’t even think of starting something on my own,” she said. “Now, I not only cook and sell, but I also feel proud when people call me ‘chef’ in the neighbourhood.”
Another participant, Auwal Ibrahim Adamu, has launched a small bakery and is already gaining recognition in his community. “It started with just a little flour,” he said. “Now, people wake up early to wait for my bread. This training changed my life.”
The YouLead programme aims to empower youth with practical knowledge, entrepreneurship guidance, and leadership exposure to build a more self-reliant and productive generation.
