By Fatima Mukhtar Isah
Katsina State has received national recognition after becoming the first in Nigeria to translate National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) learning materials into the Hausa language, a move aimed at making technical and vocational education more accessible to rural communities.
The Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Prof. Idris Muhammed Bugaje, described the initiative as a landmark achievement during a visit by officials of the Katsina Youth Craft Village to his office in Kaduna.
Prof. Bugaje also praised Governor Dikko Umaru Radda for investing over ₦5 billion in the Katsina Youth Craft Village, saying the support has transformed the centre into one of Nigeria’s leading skills development institutions.
The State Coordinator of the Craft Village, Engr. Kabir Abdullahi Kofar Soro, said the centre now offers training in 14 trade areas, with all learning materials translated into Hausa to help people in grassroots communities understand and acquire practical skills more easily.
He revealed that 1,662 trainees will graduate next month, almost three times the number in the previous batch and that 80 to 85 percent of past graduates are now running businesses or working in their trained professions.
Bugaje commended the translation project and suggested that the manuals be adopted nationwide. He also encouraged the state to translate some materials into Ajami script to extend vocational education to Almajiri pupils and help reduce street begging.
The NBTE boss further urged the Craft Village to expand its programmes to train skilled workers for major national infrastructure projects, including gas pipelines and power projects, where thousands of artisans will be needed.
