Vice-President Kashim Shettima has praised the Kaduna State Government for establishing the Kaduna State Council on Skills, calling it a national model for workforce development and youth employment. In a letter addressed to Governor Uba Sani, Shettima, who doubles as Chairman of the National Council on Skills (NCS), described the council's inauguration as a strategic response to Nigeria's human capital and unemployment challenges. The commendation came after discussions at a recent National Council on Skills meeting, where Kaduna's initiative was spotlighted as a policy milestone in advancing coordinated skills development nationwide.
Shettima stated that the Kaduna council aligns with President Bola Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda and sets a benchmark for other states. He credited the administration with demonstrating proactive commitment to closing the unemployment gap and advancing human capital. The vice-president referred to the Kaduna Model as a vital template for the 'Bottom-Up' approach to skills acquisition, ensuring vocational and technical training reach grassroots communities. He urged sustained collaboration between the National Secretariat and Kaduna's council to harmonise standards and scale up impact.
Kashim Shettima's public endorsement of Uba Sani's administration reveals more than policy alignment—it signals a political narrative where sub-national innovation is being framed as proof of federal agenda success. By elevating Kaduna's Council on Skills as a "national model," Shettima positions Sani, a fellow All Progressives Congress (APC) governor, as a standout performer, even as other states lag in similar institutional reforms.
This praise gains weight against Nigeria's 43.3% youth unemployment rate, as reported by NBS in 2023. Kaduna's council is not just an administrative move but a response to a crisis where millions of young people lack access to structured vocational pathways. The fact that the National Council on Skills is now using Kaduna as a reference point suggests a shift toward decentralised solutions in human capital development—something previous federal interventions largely ignored.
For ordinary Nigerians, especially unemployed youth in Kaduna, this could mean better access to standardised, job-relevant training if implementation matches ambition. However, the real test lies in funding, inclusivity, and whether rural communities benefit equally.
The broader trend is clear: effective governance is increasingly measured by institutional innovation, not just project inaugurations. Kaduna's move sets a precedent—other states may now face pressure to create similar structures, not just for development, but for political visibility.
