Training has formally commenced at the Family Homes Funds Limited African Development Bank-funded artisan skill training programme at the training site in Katsina State.
According to a Wednesday statement, this milestone follows a successful screening and selection process earlier in the month, marking Katsina as the first of 12 states to begin the Nigerian Skills Qualification-certified training programme.
“The initiative, supported by a $1m technical assistance grant from the Youth Entrepreneurship and Innovation Multi-Donor Trust Fund, aims to professionalise the housing value chain by equipping 500 young artisans with practical, industry-relevant skills. The programme delivers hands-on training in high-demand trades, including masonry, electrical wiring, tiling, painting, and POP design,” the statement read in part.
The Katsina State Training Centre Coordinator, Hamzat Isah, affirmed that “most of the students are showing keen interest in the programme. We are educating them on the various trades that we are going to take them through, which include masonry, plumbing, electrical, tiling, and tailoring.”
According to him, reflecting FHFL’s commitment to inclusive development, the Katsina cohort shows strong participation from women in trades traditionally dominated by men. He stressed that site assessment data show that women currently make up 28 per cent of the total trainees, while males account for 72 per cent.
“The number of women we have compared to the number of men is 28 per cent; 28 per cent of them are women. Seventy-two per cent are males,” Isah said.
He maintained that the graduation of these certified professionals is expected to significantly transform the building sector in Katsina State and beyond.
“The State Government is providing critical logistical support, including accommodation and feeding for all participants throughout the training period. With this kind of training, we will now have local experts who can handle complex painting, carpentry, and POP work. We will no longer need to look outside our borders, Ghana and Togo, for skilled artisans; these trainees will provide the best for Katsina and Nigeria at large,” Isah noted.
The FAST Project Lead, Mrs Monsurat Muhammed, said, “Upon successful completion, graduates will receive NSQ certification, starter packs to begin immediate work, and enrolment in the FHFL database for future deployment to nationwide housing projects.”
Other states planned for rollout of the training are Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Delta, Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Niger, and Ogun states.
The Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, had earlier reaffirmed his administration’s support for the programme, which aligns with his vision for economic growth and social stability.
The Family Homes Fund Artisan Skills Training Programme is a partnership between FHFL and the African Development Bank to address the shortage of skilled labour in the construction sector. It promotes global acceptance for Nigerian youth certified under the National Skills Qualification Framework. FHFL is a social housing finance institution promoted by the Federal Government of Nigeria to provide affordable homes for low-income Nigerians and create sustainable jobs.
