By Ibrahim Ibrahim
Hope is rising for out-of-school youths in Kano as the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), in collaboration with the New Turn for Youth Enthusiasm and Development (NYED), has successfully concluded an eight-week digital and entrepreneurship training programme aimed at transforming young lives.
The initiative, tagged Youth Out-of-School Creativity and Filter Programme, equipped beneficiaries with practical digital skills and entrepreneurial knowledge, offering new pathways to self-reliance and economic inclusion.
Speaking at the closing session in Kano, the programme coordinator, Ibrahim Nuhu, described the training as a life-changing intervention for participants, most of whom had never operated a computer before.
“Today, these young people can confidently use computers, smartphones and apply digital skills to entrepreneurship. This shows that with the right support, out-of-school youths can thrive and contribute meaningfully to society,” Nuhu said.
He added that CITAD would continue to mentor the trainees to help them grow their business ideas, while appealing to government and community stakeholders to support the initiative with tools such as computers and smartphones to sustain the learning process.
According to him, the enthusiasm and dedication shown by the participants underscore the power of digital literacy in reducing unemployment and unlocking hidden potential among youths often left behind.
Also speaking, the Executive Director of NYED, Amb. Abdulsalam Haruna Suleiman, said the programme was designed to bridge the digital divide and give neglected youths a chance to discover and develop their talents.
“We are in a digital era. Many youths who didn’t attend formal school still have natural abilities. This project helps them explore those talents, acquire new skills and connect with opportunities,” he said.
Suleiman explained that the pilot phase trained 25 youths from Medile community, with another batch of 25 set to benefit in the next phase. He revealed that NYED plans to reach at least 500 out-of-school youths within one year through a batch-by-batch approach.
He added that the organisation worked closely with CITAD, community members, traditional leaders and parents to ensure the programme’s sustainability.
The NYED Executive Director further disclosed that a special graduation ceremony would be held in two weeks to celebrate the achievements of the trainees, while calling on the Kano State Government, private sector and development partners to support the expansion of the project across the state.
For the beneficiaries, the training has already sparked confidence and new ambitions.
Halima Abdullahi Muhammad, a participant from Medile community, said the programme helped her overcome her fear of computers.
“Before now, I was afraid of using computers. Today, I understand how computers started and how they work, and I have also learnt digital entrepreneurship skills,” she said.
Another participant, Zainab Isa Umar, said the training opened her eyes to the evolution of technology and modern business opportunities.
“We learnt how computers evolved and how to advertise our products digitally. I hope relevant stakeholders will support this programme so more youths can benefit,” she added.
The successful completion of the programme has renewed optimism that targeted digital empowerment can transform out-of-school youths into confident, skilled and productive members of society.
