Eight Jigawa youths win ₦2 million grants after completing British Council-backed entrepreneurship training.
The program equips participants with digital skills, mentorship and seed funding to grow innovative businesses.
Eight young entrepreneurs in Jigawa State have received grants worth ₦2 million to scale up their businesses after completing an eight-week employability and entrepreneurship training program organized by the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD).
The initiative, supported by the British Council and King’s Trust International, trained 80 youths aged 18 to 30 at the Manpower Development Institute, Dutse. Out of 29 participants who pitched their business ideas, eight winners emerged, each receiving ₦250,000 in seed funding.
The program targeted persistent challenges of youth unemployment and underemployment in northern Nigeria, equipping participants with skills in digital literacy, ICT, marketing, and soft skills. It also incorporated mentorship, peer learning, and investor linkages to promote youth-led innovation.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, British Council’s Program Manager for Non-formal Education – Youth Enterprise and Sustainable Peace, Dr. Yahya Janga, commended the Jigawa State Government and Federal University Dutse for supporting the project.
“Jigawa has provided endless support for the actualization of this entrepreneurship project. We also commend the Federal University Dutse for helping to identify qualified youths,” he said.
Executive Director of CITAD, Malam Yunusa Zakariya’u, represented by Project Coordinator Mr. Isa Garba, described the project as part of the British Council’s Youth Connect Program, noting that it marked a milestone in translating training into tangible business opportunities.
Jigawa State Commissioner for Information, Youth, and Sports, Mr. Sagir Musa, represented by Deputy Director of Youth Affairs, Mr. Abbas Zakari, reiterated the government’s commitment to youth empowerment.
“Our administration has given priority to empowering young people, which is why you can see results across many sectors. We are ready to partner with organizations that share this vision,” Musa said, urging beneficiaries to wisely invest their grants and support peers.
Among the winners was Mohammed Bello, a youth living with disability, who pledged to invest the funds responsibly.
“I urge youths with disabilities to learn skills and not depend only on white-collar jobs,” he said.
Another recipient, Miss Fiddausi Hamza, who trained in epoxy resin art, said the grant would enable her to turn her acquired skills into a viable business.
The beneficiaries commended the British Council, King’s Trust International, and CITAD for the life-changing opportunity, while organizers emphasized that the Jigawa model blends international best practices with local insights to foster sustainable entrepreneurship and contribute to Nigeria’s development.
