On Friday, August 8, 2025, SKAID Foundation celebrated a significant achievement in its goal to empower communities with the graduation of 46 trainees from the SKAID TRADE AND Skill Acquisition Training program. The ceremony took place at Maryamu and Yakubu Skills Development and Educational Foundation in Zango Kataf Local Government Area, marking two months of intense training, resilience, and transformation.
The graduates focused on five main skill areas: Solar Installation & Setup, Beauty Care & Makeup, Electrical & Electronic Repairs, Fashion & Tailoring, and Catering & Pastry. These areas were chosen to meet local economic needs and create paths for self-reliance.
What started as a dream for many participants is now a reality. Each graduate left with not only market-ready skills but also starter packs to help them begin their entrepreneurial journeys right away. These tools are meant to break down barriers to entry, speed up income generation, and support community development.
The ceremony was full of pride, hope, and inspiration. The graduates showed confidence as they received their certificates of completion. Family members, community leaders, and supporters filled the venue to witness the celebration of hard work, skill mastery, and the promise of a brighter future.
” You have devoted yourself to hard work, perseverance and education in acquiring valuable skills that open doors to economic independence and entrepreneurship…,” said Rear Admiral Ferguson Bobai Rtd, Chairman, SKAID Foundation. “I encourage you to be resilient, innovative, and socially responsible as you enter the workforce or venture into entrepreneurship”
From the beauty care trainees ready to set trends, to the solar installation graduates eager to light up communities, and the electrical repair experts prepared to fuel dreams, each skill area represents a smart investment in the economic sustainability of Southern Kaduna.
Representing the Kaduna State Government, Mal. Hussaini Haruna Muhammad, Provost of the Institute of Vocational Training and Skills Development, emphasized the program’s alignment with the state’s development strategy:
“If you build the capacity of the people and give them the requisite skills, they will be the ones to build the city.”
He affirmed that investment in human capital is the most sustainable path to overall development and praised the Foundation for its foresight in empowering youth beyond this ceremony.
In a stirring address, His Highness, the Agwatyap, Sir Dominic Gambo Yahaya, commended SKAID Foundation’s visionary work, stating:
“You are doing a wonderful job, and we are deeply impressed. If you continue like this, you will transform rural areas in a great way.”
He urged the graduates to embrace the opportunity and multiply their impact, encouraging them to “expand their expertise and mentor others, creating a ripple effect of skilled professionals within Southern Kaduna.
The graduation ceremony also caught media attention, with NTA Kafanchan, Elanza News, New Nigeria Newspaper, Authentic News Daily highlighting the joy, stories of resilience, and the powerful idea of opportunity meeting commitment.
As part of its broader vision, SKAID Foundation remains dedicated to promoting sustainable development in Southern Kaduna through education, healthcare, agriculture, entrepreneurship, and focused empowerment initiatives. The SKAID Trade and Skill Acquisition Training is a key program under this mission, aimed directly at tackling unemployment and skill gaps in the region.
Media Contact:
Oluwaseun O. Ojo
Communication, Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning Officer
SKAID Foundation