The National Association of Nigerian Students has commended the Kaduna State Government for its investment in vocational and technical skills development, urging other state governments to consider similar programmes.

NANS National President, Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, made the remarks during an inspection of one of Kaduna’s vocational training facilities while the students’ association held its national sitting in the state.

Afeez said the facilities demonstrated the importance of combining classroom-based education with practical training that can equip young people with skills for employment and entrepreneurship.

Kaduna State has established the Institute of Vocational Training and Skills Development with campuses serving the state’s three senatorial districts. The institute recently graduated its pioneer cohort of 4,050 trainees after practical training across 14 trade areas.

The programmes include electrical installation, welding and fabrication, aluminium fabrication, computer hardware repairs and maintenance, catering and hospitality, masonry, refrigeration and air conditioning, fashion design and garment making, carpentry and joinery, painting and decoration, tiling, plumbing and pipe fitting, solar installation and automotive mechatronics.

According to Afeez, the centre inspected by the NANS delegation was equipped with facilities designed to support practical learning and skills acquisition. He also highlighted infrastructure such as workshops, hostels, a cafeteria and a clinic.

The NANS president said the association was particularly interested in the practical orientation of the programme, arguing that vocational education can give students and other young people alternatives to conventional academic pathways.

He also noted that some of the skills and services produced through the centres could support government institutions and local communities. Among the examples cited were the production of school uniforms, desks and office furniture.

The Kaduna government has previously said the institute's training is designed to meet national occupational standards, with its partnership with the National Board for Technical Education enabling graduates to obtain National Skills Qualification certification.

The state has also moved beyond training by providing financial support to graduates. Governor Uba Sani approved ₦200,000 for each of the 4,050 pioneer graduates, representing a total of ₦810 million, to help them acquire tools, obtain working capital or pursue employment opportunities. The government subsequently began disbursing the grants to beneficiaries.

The combination of training and start-up support is intended to make it easier for graduates to put their newly acquired skills into practice rather than leaving the programme without resources to begin working.

Afeez encouraged beneficiaries of the vocational centres to make productive use of their training and share their knowledge with others who may not have access to similar programmes.

He also called on residents and stakeholders in Kaduna to support initiatives that expand access to vocational education and practical skills.

The NANS president's comments come as the association continues to inspect infrastructure and development projects in different parts of the country. In September, the students' body conducted a nationwide tour of federal road projects, including projects in Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa and Sokoto.

Kaduna's vocational training initiative is therefore part of a broader state effort to place greater emphasis on skills development alongside conventional education. Whether the programme delivers its intended long-term impact will depend on the ability of graduates to secure jobs, establish businesses and connect their skills with sustained market opportunities.

Reporting by TalkNaijaMedia