The Kano State Agency for Mass Education, in collaboration with Plan International, has distributed livelihood start-up kits to graduates under the Accelerating Basic Education and Livelihood Opportunities for Children and Youth in Northwest Nigeria (ABEP) project. The European Union funds ABEP.

Speaking at the event on Thursday, Plan International’s official, Yerima Shettima, said the project provided learners with opportunities to acquire basic literacy and numeracy skills, alongside vocational and technical training, to improve their livelihood prospects.

Mr Shettima said the vocational training component aimed to equip the young people with practical, market-relevant skills to support self-employment, entrepreneurship, and participation in income-generating activities.

He said the start-up kits intervention was meant to help graduates transition from vocational training to self-employment and entrepreneurship.

“Completing vocational training does not always translate into employment or business ownership, as many young people lack the essential tools, equipment, and materials needed to put their skills into practice.

“To address this barrier, the ABEP project has flagged up the distribution and support to over 750 graduates with livelihood start-up kits tailored to their vocational specialisations. The intervention is designed to help beneficiaries apply their acquired skills, establish or strengthen small businesses, and build more sustainable sources of income.

“It is also to reduce start-up barriers by improving beneficiaries’ access to productive assets. Similarly, it is to encourage the effective application of acquired vocational skills to improve household economic resilience,” Mr Shettima said.

SAME’s executive secretary, Binta Abubakar, said the intervention would help participants work and earn income to support their welfare, their families, and their communities.

Ms Binta, who was represented by her Director, Sammani Ibrahim, expressed appreciation to Plan International for its contribution in improving the welfare of youths, girls and young women in Kano.

(NAN)