By Hassan Ibrahim
Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has called on governments, non-governmental organisations, development partners, philanthropists, private-sector organisations and other well-meaning Nigerians to invest more in vocational education and skills development programmes for out-of-school girls across Northern Nigeria.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Adamu Ahmed made the call at the graduation ceremony of the Out-of-School Girls’ Vocational Skills Training Programme organised by the Division of Agricultural Colleges, ABU, Samaru College of Agriculture, in collaboration with the Centre for Girls Child Education (CGE) and was held at Samaru College of Agriculture, ABU, Zaria.
Professor Adamu Ahmed represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Advancement, Research and Innovation, Professor Sunusi Aliyu Rafindadi, said the graduation was more than the presentation of certificates, stressing that the beneficiaries had acquired practical skills capable of giving them greater confidence, economic opportunities and the capacity to contribute to the wellbeing of their families and communities.
He said the programme was particularly significant because it targeted girls who had been excluded from conventional educational opportunities, noting that being out of school should not mean being out of opportunity.
According to him, the collaboration between CGE and the Division of Agricultural Colleges has provided practical training to 240 girls in two cohorts, covering areas such as horticulture, beekeeping, goat farming, and catering and restaurant management.
The Vice-Chancellor commended the management of the Centre for Girls Child Education and the Division of Agricultural Colleges for the initiative, describing the partnership as an example of how organisations committed to addressing the educational needs of vulnerable girls can work with universities to utilise knowledge, facilities and expertise for community development.
Professor Ahmed therefore appealed to state and local governments, NGOs, development organisations, philanthropists, the private sector and elected representatives at national and state levels to support similar initiatives, particularly in communities across Northern Nigeria where the challenge of out-of-school children remains significant.
Addressing the graduates, he urged them not to regard the training as the end of their journey, but as the beginning of new opportunities, encouraging them to continue learning, support others and become sources of opportunity within their communities.
The Director of the Division of Agricultural Colleges, Professor Bashir Ahmad Babaji, said the ceremony marked a celebration of courage, determination and new beginnings for the 120 graduates who completed the four-month vocational training programme.
Professor Babaji explained that the beneficiaries were trained in different areas of the agricultural value chain, including tomato and onion production, goat farming, beekeeping, and catering and restaurant management.
He added that the participants were not only trained in production and management but also exposed to skills aimed at reducing post-harvest losses and transforming agricultural activities into viable businesses.
According to him, the programme was designed to give out-of-school girls a second chance by equipping them with skills, dignity and opportunities to contribute meaningfully to food security and economic growth in Kaduna State and Nigeria at large.
Professor Babaji commended the Vice-Chancellor for supporting the initiative and opening the doors of the University to the beneficiaries, saying the programme demonstrated ABU's commitment to excellence in teaching, research and community service.
In an interviiew with the Director of the Centre for Girls Child Education (CGE) Hajiya Habiba Mohammed described the graduation as an important milestone, noting that the beneficiaries represented the first set of girls to complete the programme after receiving training in various vocational areas.
She appreciated the efforts of the management and staff of Samaru College of Agriculture and commended ABU for supporting the initiative and providing opportunities for the beneficiaries to further their education.
The CGE director said the programme would not stop with the current beneficiaries, explaining that there were plans to expand the initiative to other educational centres to provide more girls with access to practical education and vocational skills.
She also praised the staff and facilitators of the College for their dedication and commitment to training the girls.
She disclosed that the Centre plans to expand the programme to other educational centres to give more out-of-school girls access to practical education and vocational skills.and called on well-meaning Nigerians, organisations and institutions to support efforts aimed at empowering out-of-school girls.
The initiative, which carries the theme “Building Skills, Creating Opportunities and Promoting Sustainable Livelihoods,” is aimed at helping out-of-school girls acquire practical skills that can improve their livelihoods and enable them to contribute to the development of their families and communities.
Our Correspondent Hassan Ibrahim reports that the graduation ceremony brought together university officials, academic and non-academic staff, community and traditional leaders, representatives of CGE, trainers, parents, guardians, members of the press and the 120 graduating girls, marking another step towards using vocational and agricultural education to create opportunities for young women.
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