Governor Sule walks the talk as Nasarawa ‘catches them young’ with vocational skills

On a bright Saturday morning in Lafia, the familiar sight of students on holiday was replaced by something new and hopeful. Hundreds of young people, not in their regular school uniforms but in the attire of aspiring technicians, gathered for a special walk.

They were joined by Governor Abdullahi Sule, for the first-ever Nasarawa Vocational Skills Day.

The event, which began with a symbolic walk, the “A.A Sule Skills Walk” along Jos Road, marked the end of a unique long vacation program and the beginning of a bold vision for the state’s future.

The walk culminated at the gates of the Wing Commander Abdullahi Ibrahim Vocational and Technology Institute, where the governor was warmly received by the six hundred young graduates of the program.

These children and teenagers, between the ages of five and fifteen, had spent their long vacation not just at home, but actively acquiring practical skills in areas like computer technology, baking, cosmetology, and tailoring.

The atmosphere was one of visible pride, not only for the students but for their parents and the instructors who guided them.

Governor Sule, addressing the gathering, took a moment to congratulate everyone involved.

He specifically thanked the parents and guardians who believed in the program and sent their children to learn a new skill instead of simply passing the time during the holidays.

He commended the management, staff, teachers, and trainers for making the initiative a reality.

The Governor then spoke passionately about the core idea behind the project, pointing to the modern world, where young people often see videos on social media platforms like TikTok of their peers from countries like China, Germany, and America demonstrating incredible skills and inventions.

He noted that many Nigerians watch these and feel their nation is falling behind, often placing the blame on its leaders.

“Now that Nigerian leaders are saying that those countries were able to attain these feats because they were able to catch their citizens young. That is what we are trying to do by catching them young. This is a vision beyond TikTok,” he stated.

The Governor revealed that the programme’s overwhelming success was a clear sign that the people of Nasarawa State were ready for this change.

According to him, the programme was initially planned for just fifty children as a pilot test, with however over a thousand applications received, paving the way for 600 young people to undergo the maiden training.

Governor Sule assured of not only increasing the number of participants next time but to eventually establish similar technical and vocational centers in each of the state’s three senatorial zones.

The final goal, though he acknowledged it is a costly and capital-intensive endeavor, is to have at least one such center in all thirteen local government areas, ensuring every child has access to this opportunity.

The Governor announced a donation of twenty thousand naira each to all the graduating 600 trainees as seed money.

The vision behind the programme was further explained by Dr. Daniel Ewuga Asele, the Executive Director of the institute.

He called the initiative the “catch them young vocational skills training programme,” a project born from a powerful conviction that the earlier a child is equipped with practical skills, strong values, and a clear vision for their future, the stronger and more resilient the entire society will become.

Dr. Asele explained that the programme was specifically designed for children in primary and junior secondary school, aiming to prepare them for a world that is changing faster than ever before.

He said that by providing hands-on training and stimulating creativity during their vacation, the institute hopes to plant seeds that will grow into a generation of innovators, entrepreneurs, and skilled professionals.

The event was more than a graduation ceremony; it was a statement of intent. It signaled a shift in focus towards empowering the youngest members of society with the tools to build their own futures and, in doing so, build the future of Nasarawa State.

The six hundred graduates, now armed with new skills and confidence, represent the first fruits of a ambitious plan to ensure that the state’s youth are not left behind but are instead prepared to lead and compete on a global stage.

Among top government functionaries that attended the event include Secretary to the Government of Nasarawa State, Labaran Shuaibu Magaji, PhD, Engineer Wada Yahaya Muhammad, Managing Director, Nasarawa Urban Development Agency (NUDA), as well as Mallam Yakubu Lamai, DG, Strategic Communication and Event Management.