By Adamu Yusuf
The Renewed Hope Initiative under the Tinubu–Uba Sani Mobilisation Network has graduated 1,200 women and youths from various skills acquisition and empowerment programmes in Kaduna State.
It also plans to extend the intervention across all 23 local government areas of the state.
Addressing the gathering at the graduation ceremony held in Rigachikun, Kaduna, the Chairman of the Tinubu–Uba Sani Mobilisation Network, AbdulMomin Zaria, described the event as a major milestone in ongoing efforts to equip young people and women with vocational and entrepreneurial skills for self-reliance and economic empowerment.
He said the programme, which began last year, has already been implemented in more than seven local government areas, providing beneficiaries with practical skills to improve their livelihoods and reduce dependency.
According to him, the initiative was designed to complement broader efforts aimed at tackling unemployment and poverty by decentralising vocational training and bringing opportunities closer to communities across the state.
AbdulMomin Zaria further explained that mobile training centres were introduced to address the limitations of conventional vocational institutions and to expand access to skills acquisition, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
He noted that participants received hands-on training in various trades and vocations, adding that the graduates would also benefit from starter packs and financial support to enable them to establish small businesses and become self-reliant.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the network to scaling up the programme across Kaduna State to ensure more women and youths benefit from the Renewed Hope Initiative.
Also speaking, the Kaduna State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Muhammad Abubakar Mamadi, said the programme was already yielding positive results, citing success stories from previous beneficiaries who have improved their economic conditions through acquired skills.
He highlighted the performance and confidence of some earlier graduates as evidence of the initiative’s impact on community development and youth empowerment.
Muhammad Abubakar Mamadi commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for championing the Renewed Hope Agenda and praised Governor Uba Sani for providing an enabling environment for empowerment programmes in Kaduna State.
He urged the graduates to apply their skills effectively, emphasizing entrepreneurship, innovation, and self-reliance as key drivers of sustainable economic growth.
In her remarks, the Senior Special Assistant to the Kaduna State Governor on Social Investment, Hajiya Falmata Abacha, said the programme was designed to equip beneficiaries with practical and entrepreneurial skills capable of transforming their lives and reducing poverty.
She explained that the initiative combines vocational training, mentorship, and empowerment support aimed at building sustainable livelihoods, particularly among women, youths, and vulnerable groups.
Hajiya Falmata Abacha commended stakeholders and development partners for supporting the programme, and particularly praised AbdulMomin Zaria for funding the training and empowerment activities through the Tinubu–Uba Sani Mobilisation Network, as well as Muhammad Abubakar Mamadi for his commitment to humanitarian and community development efforts.
Some beneficiaries, in separate interviews, expressed gratitude to Muhammad Abubakar Mamadi and Aminu AbdulMomin Zaria for their contributions toward improving their living conditions.
At the event, each of the 1,200 graduates received ₦20,000 cash support to assist in starting or expanding their businesses.
In addition, outstanding participants who excelled during the programme were rewarded with cash prizes of ₦50,000, ₦40,000, and ₦30,000 for first, second, and third positions respectively.
The ceremony attracted government officials, traditional rulers, community leaders, development partners, beneficiaries, and members of the media, who witnessed the graduation and empowerment exercise.
