In a major step toward advancing female entrepreneurship and self-reliance, TechnoServe, in collaboration with the Kano Science Schools Old Students Association (KASSOSA) and the Technology Incubation Center (TIC), has launched a six-month training programme for young girls graduated from girls’ science secondary schools in Kano State.
The event, which marked the official flag-off of the initiative, was held at the New Government Science and Technical College (GSTC), Kano, where hundreds of participants gathered to begin their journey toward acquiring practical entrepreneurial and employability skills.
Speaking during the launch, Maryam Haruna Danjuma, Enterprise Development Advisor on the SAY-WEE Project—Skilling on Adolescent and Young Women for Entrepreneurship and Employability—explained that the project, funded by UNICEF through support from FCDO, aims to empower young women with business and employment skills that will enable them to become self-reliant and economically active.
“In today’s world, women constitute a larger portion of the population, and empowering them means empowering their families and communities. SAY-WEE is designed to give young women the confidence and tools to contribute meaningfully to national development,” she said.
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Maryam added that being in science should not limit one’s opportunities in entrepreneurship, encouraging participants to “grab and learn other skills even as you continue your studies.”
She urged KASSOSA members and trainees to take attendance and punctuality seriously, noting that consistent participation would determine eligibility for participating in the robust Aftercare phase of the project — a stage designed to provide ongoing mentorship and guidance after the training.
Earlier in his address, KASSOSA National President, Malam Balarabe Nuhu Jalla Danbatta, explained that the association’s move into entrepreneurship and capacity building as part of its broader vision to help members and students become productive citizens and economic contributors.
He said, “We believe in the power of entrepreneurship to shape lives, build enterprises, and transform communities. That is why KASSOSA, TechnoServe, and TIC have come together — KASSOSA provides the platform, TIC trains, and TechnoServe empowers.”
Jalla noted that this is not KASSOSA’s first intervention of its kind, recalling previous collaborations with the Technology Incubation Center that led to successful training and empowerment of young people across Kano.
Representing TIC, Malam Baba Tata Azare urged the girls to take the training seriously, stressing that such an opportunity — facilitated by credible organizations — is one many would ordinarily have to pay for.
The Chairman of the KASSOSA Entrepreneurship Committee, Malam Habibu Ahmadu, announced that over 1,000 young girls would undergo training across three designated centers in Kano Metropolis: Girls Secondary School Ja’oji, First Lady Science College, New Girls Science Secondary School, and New Science Secondary School Dala.
He advised the participants to choose the centers closest to them and make the best use of the programme to complement their science education with entrepreneurship knowledge that can improve their livelihoods.
A notable moment during the event came from Aisha Shehu Jakada, a past beneficiary of the KASSOSA Entrepreneurship Programme, who shared her success story and urged the new trainees to stay committed.
“I started small, but today I can proudly say that what I learned from the KASSOSA entrepreneurship programme changed my life. I now run a small business that supports my education and family. I urge every participant here to take this opportunity seriously and become self-reliant,” she said.
The event underscored KASSOSA’s continuous commitment to youth empowerment and female capacity building in Kano, as the partnership with TechnoServe and TIC seeks to promote inclusive economic growth and gender equity in the state.