Zainab Ali
The African Union Development Agency–New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD), in collaboration with the Nasarawa State Government, has commenced the second batch of its skill acquisition training programme for 100 widows, youths and vulnerable persons across the state.
The Nasarawa State Coordinator of AUDA-NEPAD, Mohammed Sameel, made this known on Tuesday in Lafia, during the opening ceremony of the six-week training programme.
Sameel said the beneficiaries, drawn from the state’s 13 local government areas, will acquire skills in Information and Communication Technology (ICT), baking and pastries, tailoring, aluminium fabrication, arc welding, domestic electrical installation, barbing, hairdressing, among others.
He explained that AUDA-NEPAD was established to empower Africans with relevant skills and support to improve their livelihoods and enable the continent to compete favourably with others globally.
“For the first batch, we slated 100 people to be trained, and about 95 attended, which is a 95 per cent turnout. That is an excellent performance. We have now commenced training for the second batch of another 100 beneficiaries,” Sameel said.
He added that outstanding trainees may receive additional support from the state government to assist them in establishing their own businesses after the programme.
Sameel congratulated the beneficiaries on their selection and urged them to take the training seriously, noting that the objective was to make them self-reliant and future employers of labour. He also warned that trainees who fail to maintain punctuality throughout the six weeks would not be allowed to graduate, adding that a monitoring and evaluation team has been constituted to oversee the programme.
He commended Governor Abdullahi Sule and the Executive Director of the Wing Commander Abdullahi Ibrahim Vocational and Technology Institute, Lafia, Daniel Asele, for their commitment to empowering widows, youths and vulnerable persons in the state.
In his remarks, Asele said the training was organised by AUDA-NEPAD to ensure that widows and other vulnerable groups acquire practical skills to enhance their economic prospects and improve their standard of living.
He recalled that in October 2025, no fewer than 200 youths, widows and vulnerable persons were trained under the first phase of the programme across various skill acquisition areas.