Yobe to train 2,500 girls in digital and vocational skills

By Amara Osei

The Yobe State Government says it will train 2,500 young women and girls in digital and vocational skills through a partnership with the Mastercard Foundation and Tech for Development. Ibrahim Baba Saleh, Media Coordinator and Liaison in the Office of the Secretary to the State Government, said the programme will be implemented under the Technology Talent Services (TTS) project.

What will participants gain?

Saleh said the initiative will improve access to employment, entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihoods. The programme will promote digital inclusion, strengthen economic independence and equip participants with practical skills relevant to the changing job market, according to his statement.

Why did the TTS delegation visit Yobe?

The TTS Nigeria delegation, led by Ambassador Janet Olisa, discussed the programme during a courtesy visit to Dr Mohammed Goje, Secretary to the State Government. Olisa said the delegation visited Yobe to “assess potential training centres” and “review the state’s readiness for implementation.” It also sought to strengthen collaboration with the government to support effective delivery of the programme.

Saleh's statement said Yobe emerged as one of the leading states among the 12 participating states in terms of preparedness. It linked that position to structures already established to support implementation. Yobe's readiness therefore rests on implementation structures the state has already put in place.

How will training connect to work?

Participants will receive assistance with job searches and placement opportunities. Saleh's statement said this support should help them apply their training in the workplace, pursue entrepreneurial opportunities and build sustainable sources of income.

The intervention therefore extends beyond classroom instruction, in Saleh's description. It links digital and vocational training with job-search help, workplace application, placement and entrepreneurial support, with sustained income as the intended outcome. The design gives participants two routes to income: employment and self-employment.

What has the state committed?

Goje, who received the delegation, reaffirmed Governor Mai Mala Buni's commitment to “human capital development, youth empowerment and inclusive economic growth.” He said the administration would continue to support initiatives that “expand opportunities for young women and girls,” “encourage innovation” and strengthen their contribution to the state's development.

Who will coordinate implementation?

The state government plans to establish a Project Steering Committee to coordinate implementation and promote accountability and inclusion. The committee will comprise relevant ministries, departments and agencies, civil society organisations and representatives of persons with disabilities.

Saleh's statement expects government participants to include the ministries responsible for Women Affairs, Humanitarian Affairs, Wealth Creation and Information, alongside the Yobe Information Technology Development Agency (YITDA). The committee will therefore bring the relevant state ministries and the information technology agency into one implementation structure.

What outcomes are targeted?

Combining digital and vocational training with employment support is intended to address skills gaps and expand young women's participation in emerging sectors of the economy, according to Saleh's statement. For aspiring entrepreneurs, the training could provide practical competencies that support self-employment and business development.

The initiative forms part of Yobe's broader human capital development agenda. According to Saleh's statement, that agenda places skills acquisition, technology and inclusive economic opportunities at the centre of sustainable development. For the 2,500 participants, the programme links those priorities in one delivery model spanning training, job placement and entrepreneurship.

What comes next?

Goje said the administration would continue supporting the initiative. The planned steering committee will coordinate implementation and promote accountability and inclusion across the training and employment-support components. Yobe's test is whether its reported readiness translates into coordinated delivery for 2,500 participants.