Gov. Uba Sani and Prof. Idris Bugaje deserve applause for promoting skills in Kaduna

By Auwal Ahmed Ibrahim, Goronyo

The prominent achievements we have in northern Nigeria are due to the good leadership style of our past and northern founding fathers. Today, in northern Nigeria, we can’t forget the stewardship of people like Sir Ahmadu Bello Sardauna, Sir Tafawa Balewa, Maitama Sule Dan Masanin Kano, Malam Aminu Kano, Hassan Usman Katsina, General Yakubu Gowon, Isa Kaita, Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa, Dangiwa Umar and many others who contributed to the development of the Kaduna state and the northern people.

Many people have contributed to the development of Nigeria, the north, and Kaduna state, but a driving force for the development of the people’s economy is paramount. The Hausa proverb says; build the worshipers rather than the places of worship. It also means to improve marketers’ skills and their economy rather than building empty markers.

Professor Idris M. Bugaje and His Excellency, the Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Uba Sani, are making history by bringing succor to the people of Kaduna State through skills and innovative programs.

Malam Uba Sani, the Governor of Kaduna State, is a passionate human developer, a sympathetic leader, a humanist, and a human rights advocate and defender. For many years, even as a youth, he sacrificed his time and energy to promote people’s progress. His aspiration for human protection is what we are witnessing in Kaduna State today. As an advisor to many leaders, a senator, and now the Governor of Kaduna State, his vision is to uplift the people and build a good future for them.

Professor Idris M. Bugaje, the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), is a leader with sympathy, empathy, vision, and a mission for the betterment of the people. As a technocrat, administrator, academic, and research guru, Professor Bugaje uses all his expertise to sow seeds of prospect and progress for Nigeria.
Through his hard work, innovative concepts, and dedication, Nigerian technical and vocational industries have gained momentum and made progress in equipping millions of Nigerian youths with employment opportunities through skills both in Nigeria and abroad.

To testify to the good leadership of Malam Uba Sani, just a few years ago, almost nine years ago, the marketers of Kaduna State were in uncertainty and tension. In less than a year, Malam Uba Sani had given them life, hope, and assurance of profitable growth. This dream was a rekindled mission of Professor Idris M. Bugaje for Panteka market, and today, Malam Uba Sani has made that dream come true, demonstrating his commitment to his people’s leadership style.

Who would have thought Panteka Market could become what it is turning into today? With roads being constructed all around the market, a clinic under construction, electrification, funding, and partnerships, it’s all for the market and the progress of the people of Kaduna State.

For his passion to build and empower the people, as a Senator, Malam Uba Sani established a free skills training center for youths. Now, as Governor of Kaduna State, he launched the Kaduna State Skills Development Council in August 2024.

This initiative is part of the development we are witnessing in Kaduna state markets. The Council will continue to serve as the top decision-making body for skills training in Kaduna, providing leadership and strategic direction for business and trades growth. The main goal of the program is to prepare young people with the skills needed to contribute effectively to various industries and businesses. Vocational and Technology Skills Acquisition Centers are being built in Rigachikun, Samaru Kataf, and Soba.

The centers will continue to provide skills training in welding, automotive mechatronics, solar power installation, and artificial intelligence. Trainees will earn certifications from globally recognized organizations like Microsoft, Google, and CISCO, enhancing their job prospects both locally and internationally. Panteka Market in Tudun Wada, Kaduna which is under remodeling will become a major hub for skills training and job creation center, offering programs in carpentry, welding, painting, and other trades.

The Kaduna State government is working with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to ensure the success and implementation of the Kaduna State vision for skills empowerment among its youth. This vision, under Malam Uba Sani’s mandate, aims to boost the state’s economy, offer opportunities for young people, and reduce hardship among the state’s marketers.

Professor Idris M. Bugaje, a recognized leadership in global skills education, is contributing to the blueprints of other nations’ skill development programs. He is sought out globally to offer assistance and solutions to unemployment problems through innovation, addressing the specific needs of each nation and its people. His contributions and work as Executive Secretary of the NBTE have earned the Board global recognition and awards. Before 2023 General Election, Prof. Bugaje advised the former Kaduna State government to remodel Panteka market rather than demolish it. He believes that skills markets should not be isolated from urban areas, citing the example of Malaysian skills markets from his time as a lecturer at a Malaysian university.

Professor Bugaje’s focus on skills development in Nigeria has led to an increase in the number of Quality Assurance (QA) and trades assessors in the country. Nigeria and China have collaborated in promoting skills, with the NBTE at the forefront of this initiative. The signing of the China-Africa Vocational Education Alliance memorandum of understanding in October 2023 has spurred the NBTE’s efforts to adopt the Chinese skills development concept. This mission aligns with the NBTE’s vision of leveraging local artisans and exporting skills services for the benefit of Nigerian economy.

Through the NBTE, Nigeria is collaborating with foreign and African countries on vocational training and employment in promoting initiatives. The NBTE is currently working with Morocco to train and retrain Nigerian artisans. Additionally, the NBTE is providing skills training to repentant Boko Haram members in Nigeria, a significant effort towards building peace in Borno state and Nigeria.

The Panteka Market, home to over 10,000 marketers, is undergoing a revolutionary remodeling design to meet the modern demands of a skills market, a vision shared by Malam Uba Sani and Professor Idris M. Bugaje. The market now boasts a Tetfund-built Skill Center, to provide training and retraining opportunities for artisans from across Africa and Nigeria. This is a remarkable achievement for our nation and its artisans.

As Professor Idris M. Bugaje often stated, Panteka Market will become the “China of Nigeria.” With the dedicated support of Malam Uba Sani, Governor of Kaduna State, and the continued contributions of NBTE, this vision is on track to become a reality. Governor Sani’s name will be etched in gold for generations to come, commemorating his remarkable transformation of Panteka Market and building Kaduna state youth with skills and innovation in tackling unemployment and poverty.

Auwal Ahmed Ibrahim, Goronyo writes from Kaduna state sent article via auwalgoronyo@gmail.com

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *