By Ahmed Ali, Kafanchan
No fewer than 3,000 women and other beneficiaries have received vocational training and agricultural skills under the Kaduna Women Economic Empowerment (WEE) Programme implemented by the Jennifer Etuh Foundation and its partners
The three-year initiative, which covered six local government areas of Kaduna State, provided training in skills acquisition and vertical sack farming, alongside start-up packages to enable beneficiaries to establish businesses and become economically self-reliant.
The programme enrolled over 3,000 beneficiaries, comprising 1,800 trained in vertical sack farming and 1,200 in various vocational skills.
Under Phase One, which began in 2024, the foundation focused on Jema’a and Kaura local government areas, where 410 women received training in tailoring, cosmetology, hairdressing, bag making, shoemaking and catering, while 670 others were trained in vertical sack farming.
The agricultural component recorded a 97 per cent increase in yields among beneficiaries, who cultivated tomatoes, pepper, and other vegetables.
In 2025, the second phase was extended to Zaria and Makarfi LGAs, with 400 beneficiaries trained in vocational skills and 600 in vertical sack farming. Although the programme primarily targeted women, 10 per cent representation was allocated to men in the phase.
The third phase, conducted in 2026, covered Chikun and Kaduna South LGAs, where another 400 beneficiaries received vocational training, while 600 participated in vertical sack farming.
The foundation said the agricultural training adopted a practical, hands-on approach through demonstration farms, where participants received guidance throughout the cultivation process.
It also provided agricultural inputs, including seeds, coco peat, pit moss, seedling trays, pesticides, and herbicides to support production and improve yields.
Speaking at the programme’s close-out ceremony in Kaduna, the Project Manager of the Jennifer Etuh Foundation, Mr Joe Otuh, urged beneficiaries to put the skills acquired and start-up materials to productive use.
He said the foundation was pleased that the initiative had equipped women with the capacity to become financially independent and generate income to improve their livelihoods.
Also speaking, Sunday Garba Makama (Jakadan Chikun), who represented the Esu Chikun II, His Highness Ishaku Yari, commended the foundation for bringing hope to vulnerable people through skills development and economic empowerment.
He said the distribution of start-up packages alongside the training would help ensure the sustainability of the intervention.
The Project Coordinator of the Kaduna WEE Project, Mobolaji Adesanya, expressed satisfaction with the successful completion of the training and empowerment exercise, urging beneficiaries not to waste the opportunities provided by the programme.
Similarly, the JEF WEE Project Supervisor, Etimbuk Effiong Udoette, said the foundation had recorded significant impact despite the large number of participants.
She noted that many beneficiaries were already putting the knowledge acquired into practice and encouraged them to remain committed to their respective trades and agricultural activities.
In his remarks, the Director of Innovation and Skills Development at the Kaduna State Ministry of Business, Innovation and Technology, Engr Noel S. Bali, said the administration of Governor Uba Sani had prioritised skills development as part of its efforts to promote economic opportunities.
He disclosed that the state government had established world-class skills development centres in Rigasa, Soba, and Samaru Kataf within the last three years.
According to him, the centres offer free training, providing residents with opportunities to acquire practical skills and obtain internationally recognised certificates.
He therefore encouraged the beneficiaries to take advantage of the facilities to advance their skills and improve their professional competence.
Some beneficiaries, including Zainab Yasin, Blessing Shuaibu, and Praise Ilori, expressed appreciation to the foundation and its partners for the intervention.
Speaking on behalf of other participants from various training centres, they said the training had equipped them with valuable skills, while the distribution of working materials would enable them to begin or expand their businesses.
Items distributed to beneficiaries included hair dryers, hand mixers, sewing machines, and bags of fertilisers, among other start-up materials and also received certificates of training.
