Icreate Africa Hosted Skills Competition In Kaduna: An Innovate Approach To Address Youth Unemployment In The North
It was a long way coming when the first guests arrived at YarAdua Hall and gathered in this multipurpose sports hall, located within the premises of the busy Murtala Square in the heart of Kaduna, Kaduna State. Being known as a preferred venue by the State Government for the acclaimed KADINVEST fair, the sight -this time – was different as the Honorable Commissioner of Kaduna State Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism Mrs. Ruth Alkali asserted: “I have never seen the hall like this.” Yar’Adua Hall was transformed into a colorful arena with wood fabrications dipped in graffiti art, with traditional Kamu Decor and Nigerian fabrics wrapped around the iron bars. 6 brand new Peugeot … were beautifully lined up, an ICT lab furnished with computer systems sponsored by Kad ICT Hub was flanked by sewing machines, mannequins and fashion work stations from The Fashion Academy Abuja on the one side and solar panels waiting to be connected by the 5 Northern talents of electrical technicians. Bosch Power Tools were distributed across and ready to be used in the Carpentry, Tiling, and Plumbing work stations. Youth from the entire Northern Region were dressed in fresh overalls, waiting for the countdown to end and for Africa’s biggest Technical and Vocational Skills Competition to kick-off for the first time in the Northern geopolitical zone of Nigeria.
On 26-27 April 2019, the Crocodile City of Kaduna was the chosen location to celebrate young talent, promote vocational skills, and foster youth entrepreneurship and industrialization. ICreate Africa started the nationwide campaign of….
Day 1 saw the beginning of tensed competitions across 12 skill professions with a total of 64 contestants from Kaduna, Kano, Gombe, Kwara, Plateau, Niger, Jigawa, Sokoto, Benue States, and Abuja FCT. In tasking test projects, the selected youth who have been thoroughly screened by industry experts of the featured skill trades, the contestants began to understand that this is indeed a new experience.
Proudly supported by Robert Bosch Nigeria Ltd., giz, Sterling Bank Plc, Kaduna State Investment Promotion Agency, Peugeot Automobile Nigeria (PAN) Ltd., AGR Ltd., Blue Camel Energy Ltd., Nigeria Embassy Berlin, Fashion Academy Abuja, Trace TV amongst others, the Skill Competition showcased new technologies and best practices in 12 skill professions, designed to meet the skills demand of the Northern Region. 36 medalists aged 18-28 years were awarded cash prizes, internship and job placements, training, and mentoring.
The Gold medalists from Gombe, Kano, Kaduna, Niger, Kwara, Benue and Plateau States respectively have qualified to compete at the Final Competition in Lagos in December 2019 and stand a chance to be crowned as iCreate Skill Champion 2019 and are as follows: Mr Shehu Shuaibu (Carpentry), Mr. Omolayo Jamiu (Tiling), Mr. Jordan Victor (Plumbing), Mr. Samson Luka (Solar/ Electrical Installations), Mr. Michael Emeka Obi (Automobile Technology), Mr. Tim Demian Isaacs (Robotics), Mr. Ahmed Muhammad (Website Design), Mr. Precious Adayi Audu (Graphics Design), Mr. Abraham Elijah (Cooking), Mr. Osilama Ozenua (Garment Making), Mr. Lot Madaki (Shoe and Leatherworks), and Mr. Saidu Abdulmunimi Degri (Art).
Top positions from females were achieved in ICT, Cooking, Shoe, and Leatherworks with a solid performance of two female contestants in Automobile Technology powered by PAN Ltd.
The event also featured an industrial exhibition, Junior Skills ICT Challenge, and panel discussions featuring the CEO of iCreate Africa Bright Jaja alongside the 2018 winners.
It was the 2018 Skill Champions who have become Brand Ambassadors, role models and aspiring entrepreneurs who presented one of the highlights of the concluding iCreate Skills Awards at the evening of Day 2: the Launch of the iCreate Skills Magazine, the first magazine in Africa that promotes and projects technical skills.
The next regional skills competition for the South-East region will be held in Enugu State on 19-20th July and feature 14 skill trades. Registrations are now open for interested participants to apply at no cost through the iCreate website www.icreateafrica.com .
For partnership and sponsorship for the South-East regional competition and South-West / Lagos Finals, please contact iCreate Africa through info@icreateafrica.com or call 0701 129 0016 .
