Vocational training has been identified as a major tool for creating employment opportunities and promoting self-reliance among youths in the modern world.
Sokoto State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Idris Mohammed Gobir, stated this while speaking at a public lecture organised as part of activities marking the 13th Sheikh Usmanu Danfodio Week in Sokoto.
The lecture, titled “Skills Acquisition as a Means of Self-Reliance: A Lesson from the Jihadist Scholars,” was delivered by Dr Usman Bugaje at the Auditorium of Sultan Maccido Institute for Qur’an and General Studies.
Alhaji Idris Gobir called for the establishment of more vocational and skills acquisition institutions to equip young people with the requisite knowledge and practical skills needed to achieve economic independence.
He observed that developed countries had, over the years, prioritised science and technology, thereby contributing significantly to their economic growth and technological advancement.
The Deputy Governor, who chaired the lecture session, emphasised the importance of intellectual engagements in enlightening youths on modern approaches to achieving economic prosperity.
He assured that the Sokoto State Government remained committed to considering useful recommendations that would promote technological development and accelerate the state’s overall progress.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Lecture Planning Committee, Malam Muhammad Lawal Maidoki, said the programme was organised to encourage young people to embrace skills acquisition as a pathway to self-reliance.
In his presentation, Dr Usman Bugaje traced the historical contributions of Islamic scholars to the advancement of science and technology several centuries ago.
He stressed the need for Nigeria to accord greater priority to science and technology as essential drivers of sustainable economic growth and prosperity.
The public lecture formed part of activities organised to commemorate the 13th Sheikh Usmanu Danfodio Week.
Garba Mohammed
Director Press Affairs
Office of the Deputy Governor
Sokoto State.
1st November, 2026.
