In a historic move aimed at democratizing technical education, the Katsina State Government has become the first in Nigeria to translate the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) training manuals into the Hausa language. This milestone initiative is set to break down educational barriers and expand access to vocational skills for rural populations across northern Nigeria.
The Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Professor Idris Bugaje, lauded the achievement during a courtesy visit by a delegation from the Katsina Youth Craft Village to the NBTE headquarters in Kaduna. The delegation officially presented the newly translated instructional materials, which span several critical vocational trades.
A Game-Changer for Rural Skill Acquisition
According to Prof. Bugaje, the translation project is a vital breakthrough that will significantly enhance human capital development under the leadership of Governor Dikko Radda. He highlighted that translating complex technical concepts into local dialects ensures that grassroots communities are no longer marginalized in the national skills drive.
“Katsina Youth Craft Village is doing remarkably well,” Bugaje stated, attributing the center’s success to substantial funding, renewed political will, and robust state support. He particularly commended the state’s investment of over ₦5 billion to revitalize the craft village, turning it into one of the country’s premier centers for technical and vocational education.
Empowering Grassroots Artisans
The State Coordinator of the Katsina Youth Craft Village, Kabir Kofarsoro, explained that the translation initiative directly addresses the educational gap experienced by non-English speakers in rural communities. “Our people in rural areas are frequently left behind in technical training. Translating these manuals into Hausa makes the knowledge vastly more accessible, easier to comprehend, and simpler to apply,” Kofarsoro remarked.
The center, which currently provides specialized training in 14 vocational trades, is preparing to graduate 1,662 students next month a massive surge from its previous graduating class of 600. Impressively, between 80 and 85 percent of the institution’s past graduates have successfully established their own businesses or secured gainful employment using their acquired skills.
Expanding Horizons: Ajami Script and Mega Infrastructure Projects
Looking ahead, the NBTE boss urged the Katsina State Government to advocate for the national adoption of these Hausa manuals. He also proposed further innovations, including:
- Ajami Translation: Translating the vocational materials into Ajami script to extend learning opportunities to Almajiri pupils.
- Strategic Skill Alignment: Positioning the trainees to leverage opportunities in mega-infrastructure projects, such as the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline, the proposed Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline, and the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project.
Reaffirming the NBTE’s commitment to supporting Katsina’s educational vision, Prof. Bugaje confirmed that the board would actively participate in the craft village’s upcoming graduation ceremony, celebrating a model that could reshape vocational training throughout Nigeria.