Maryann & Yakubu Skills Development & Educational Foundation: Center Of Excellence

AMOS TAUNA in this report, states that in this present day Nigeria, where the chase for white collar jobs have become elusive and a mirage, and in most cases, out of the reach of the growing population in the country, a Non-Government Organisation (NGO), ‘Maryann & Yakubu Skills Development & Educational Foundation’ has broken the barriers of search for non-existent jobs by developing skills of youths and women groups in the country to meet and overcome unemployment challenges.

Maryamu & Yakubu Skills Development & Educational Foundation, a non-governmental organization is a non-profit foundation domiciled in Zagon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna state but has the entire country as its operational base. It provides support for the development of youth and indigent women in entrepreneurship, in addition to providing innovative, effective educational, humanitarian, agricultural development and other support in the state and beyond in unique style and approach.

The foundation which commenced operation in 2015, aimed at being a catalyst for a sustained positive change for knowledge and skills for those with human development deficit around Kaduna state and beyond with the sole aim of giving them a sense of belonging towards the realisation of their full potentials to be self-reliant and become employers of labour just as it assist the people to advance their social economic conditions.

The Foundation is set up and structured to work with communities to develop sustainable livelihood skills in supporting the educational base of women and youth for enhancing their development index through its vision. In promoting opportunities for the acquisition of skills for women and youth, upgrading sustainable youth empowerment through educational and vocational development for enhancing their development index through its vision.

The foundation seeks to create vibrant multi-stakeholder partnerships to encourage synergy and ensure that its goals are met in enhancing the quality of life of Nigerian youth and especially women through high level on 80 percent practical and 20 percent theoretical work, ideal teaching with standard facilities to all beneficiaries aimed at meeting benchmark of international best practice. The Foundation ensures a follow up of its training and evaluation programmes of graduates to maintain high standards and quality products.

Determined to make a difference, Maryamu & Yakubu Skill Development & Educational Foundation is incorporated with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), thereby gives it the legal status to conduct grant making activities, develop, plan, implement and monitor its activities in Nigeria. The Foundation has a unique role to play as a catalyst for positive change in the lives of Nigeria women and youth. Its approach to problem solving is by utilizing creative and innovative solutions and taking responsibility for all of its actions by remaining accountable to the communities where it operates. Founded on resources that are not enough to solve all of Nigeria’s problems but maximizes its impact by collaborating and valuing other partners. The foundation believes that talented and committed people, with appropriate resources and support, can drive meaningful innovation and create lasting change in the society.

Located in a predominately peasant farmers environment, Maryamu & Yakubu Skill Development & Educational Foundation has over the years of its existence, organized a good agricultural package that truly enhance and turned around the fortunes of the farmers to all year farming activities thereby making them evolved in modern large scale farming, and most importantly, irrigation farming during the dry season.

The foundation according to its Administrative officer, Mrs Beatrice Kawai, has helped the irrigation farmers to be able to access Federal Government subsidized and enhanced rice seedlings, fertilizers, pesticide, water pump machines, among others to be able to perfectly carry out their irrigation farming. To further widen their knowledge in modern irrigation farming, about 20 irrigation farmers went on tour to Kano for a first hand understanding of how best to do real business in irrigation farming. The foundation has through the years been supplying fertilizers to farmers at Federal Government’s approved prizes.

The farmers have been formed into cooperative societies for easy access to farming inputs by the Federal Government and other international NGOs to better their performance, reduce idleness and improved standards of living.

With indigent women in the heart of the foundation meant to ameliorate their wellbeing, it has trained some women in agricultural farming like poultry among others and later formed them into cooperative society to help them access government agricultural programmes. The foundation also organizes seminars on poultry farming and others as well as embarked on a follow up visits to assess their performance with a view to proffering solutions where there are challenges. They are also being connected with international and government agencies for assistance.

The foundation through its organized programmes in Information Communication Technology (ICT), Hair dressing and body care, Welding and fabrication, plumbing and pipe fitting, Catering and event management, Solar energy and electrical installation, Fashion design and fabrication work and Aluminum and fabrication, according to Mrs Kawai, has partnered with the Federal Government through the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), in training students. She said the ITF has inspected the equipment at the Foundation and found them to be of high quality before partnering with the NGO. She said the foundation has all these years performed creditably with its high quality facilities on ground adding that the students are usually given starter packs at the training programme to be able practically put in practice what they have learned as well as to become self-reliant and employer of labour.

An instructor in the fashion design and electrical, Mr. Kenneth Shekari, said the foundation has high quality industrial and domestic machines that enable the students to easily understand the practical training that takes 80 per cent of time in the foundation.

Shekari explained further; “As l am talking to you, we have a training duration of one year but these students are into five months in their training. They can handle any design given to them. All the clothes you see hanging are their products.”

One of the students in the fashion design and electrical from Osun state, Clement Oyeyemi, hailed the environment and the facilities at the Foundation, stressing that everything has been provided for any right thinking and serious student to excel and compete favourably with anyone from any part of the world.

During the 2018 National Industrial Skills Development Programme, organized and supervised by the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), the foundation led about 20 students trained within three months in Aluminum and fabrication.

An instructor with the foundation, Engr. Felix Michael, said the NGO has all the necessary equipment and conducive learning environment with qualified instructors for anyone who wants to make a mark in any skill being provided at the center.

In his own comments, an instructor in Welding and fabrication with the foundation, Engr. Samson Markus, collaborated what Engr Michael said. According to him; “The center has all the needed facilities for theoretical and practical with every incentive for excellent performance for instructors and students.