September 4, 2026 | Kano
The Aliko Dangote Foundation has expanded its youth empowerment efforts in Northern Nigeria after reaching an agreement with the Kano State Government to take over the management of the Aliko Dangote Skills Acquisition Centre in Kano.
The partnership is aimed at repositioning the centre as a hub for vocational and entrepreneurial development, with a focus on equipping young people with practical skills that can improve their chances of securing jobs or starting their own businesses.
Under the agreement, the Foundation will manage the facility and oversee training programmes expected to cover technical, digital and industrial skills.
The initiative is part of efforts to address youth unemployment by providing young Nigerians with skills that are relevant to current economic and labour-market needs.
20-Year Management Agreement
The takeover follows a 20-year management agreement between the Kano State Government and the Aliko Dangote Foundation.
The arrangement is expected to strengthen the management of the centre and improve its capacity to provide quality vocational training to young people across Kano State.
Stakeholders have welcomed the partnership, saying stronger investment in technical and vocational education could provide young people with alternatives to traditional employment.
Muhammad Bello Isyaku Umar, Chairman of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Kano-Jigawa Branch, said practical skills could help young people become entrepreneurs, skilled workers or employees.
He also stressed the need for training programmes to focus on modern technical, digital and industrial skills that are connected to real opportunities in the economy.
Focus on Youth Employment
Kano remains one of Northern Nigeria’s major commercial and industrial centres, with a large young population that requires access to employment and entrepreneurship opportunities.
Stakeholders say skills development could help bridge the gap between young people seeking employment and industries looking for qualified workers.
The Dangote Foundation’s involvement is therefore expected to give the centre a stronger focus on practical training and economic empowerment.
The Foundation has also been expanding its skills-development initiatives in other parts of Nigeria, including the construction of a skills acquisition centre at Ganaja in Kogi State.
With the Kano centre now under the Foundation’s management, attention will be on how many young people it can train and how effectively the programme can translate vocational skills into sustainable jobs and businesses.
