By Julius Peter, Abuja
Abba A. Danguguwa, Permanent Secretary, Establishment, Kano State, has urged Nigerian youths to take advantage of skills acquisition programmes to develop practical competencies that would enable them to become self-reliant, economically independent and productive members of society.
Danguguwa made the call during the National Industrial Manpower Summit 2026, held under the theme, “Unlocking Nigeria’s Human Capital for Industrial Transformation: Building Skills, Driving Innovation and Creating Prosperity.”
He stressed that skills acquisition remained a critical pathway to addressing youth unemployment, promoting entrepreneurship and strengthening Nigeria’s human capital base for sustainable economic development.
According to him, young people must recognise the importance of acquiring practical skills and make judicious use of opportunities provided through government initiatives and other development programmes.
He encouraged youths to learn at least one or two skills that could serve as a source of livelihood, stressing that practical knowledge and vocational competence would help them navigate the challenges of an increasingly competitive economy.
“Our youths should take advantage of programmes like this and make judicious use of the opportunities available to them. Skills acquisition is something that should not be taken lightly,” he said.
Danguguwa noted that acquiring relevant skills would empower young people to become productive, create employment opportunities for themselves and contribute meaningfully to national development.
He emphasised that young Nigerians should not depend solely on formal employment but should also explore vocational training, technical education and entrepreneurship as viable routes to financial stability.
The Kano State official described his participation in the summit as a privilege, noting that he was delighted to attend the programme and represent the Executive Governor of Kano State, Abba Kabir Yusuf.
He expressed appreciation to the organisers for bringing stakeholders together to deliberate on ways of developing Nigeria’s workforce and equipping young people with the skills required to meet the demands of modern industries.
Danguguwa commended Governor Yusuf for his efforts towards promoting youth development and ensuring that young people in Kano State have access to skills and opportunities that could improve their livelihoods.
He said investment in the development of young people was essential to building a stronger economy, adding that providing them with relevant skills would help reduce dependence, encourage self-employment and increase their participation in productive economic activities.
The Permanent Secretary also expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his leadership and efforts towards the development of Nigeria.
He urged relevant stakeholders, including federal and state governments, private-sector operators, training institutions and development partners, to sustain their collaboration in providing young people with accessible and effective skills acquisition programmes.
According to him, the success of human capital development initiatives depends not only on the availability of training opportunities but also on the willingness of beneficiaries to participate actively, acquire the necessary competencies and apply them productively.
The National Industrial Manpower Summit 2026 brought together stakeholders to discuss strategies for unlocking Nigeria’s human capital potential through skills development, innovation and industrial transformation.
The summit’s theme underscored the importance of equipping Nigerians with practical and industry-relevant skills to improve productivity, stimulate enterprise development and create sustainable economic opportunities.
Danguguwa’s message reinforced the need for young Nigerians to embrace skills acquisition as a long-term investment in their future, while encouraging governments and other stakeholders to continue creating opportunities that would enable them to thrive.
He expressed optimism that sustained investment in vocational training, technical competence and youth empowerment would contribute to building a more productive workforce and advancing Nigeria’s industrial development.
