September 15, (THEWILL) – The Sokoto Professionals Network (SPN), a non-profit organisation, has trained youths in Sokoto State on leadership and entrepreneurship skills.
Speaking at the one-day capacity-building workshop in the state, the Chairman of the Incorporated Trustees of Sokoto Professionals Network, Engineer Zayyanu Tambari Yabo, highlighted the organisation’s successes since its inception.
He recalled that recently, a contingent of youths were selected and subsequently trained in solar energy installation skills free of charge.
Zayyanu also notes that the aim of establishing the Network is to partner and collaborate with stakeholders for the development of the state and promote and enhance sustainable professionalism through advocacy and reorientation programmes.
He thanked the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, and the Sokoto State Government among others for their unrelenting support.
The Sultan of Sokoto, who was represented by the District Head of Gagi, Alhaji Umar Sani Jabbi, described the Network as a key stakeholder in ensuring Sokoto youths are empowered for self-development.
The Monarch, however, called on the youths in the state to key into entrepreneurship and business rather than chasing white-collar jobs, noting the workshop is a unique opportunity to find solutions to the rising case of unemployment among Sokoto youths.
Nuhu Habib PhD, who was the Keynote Speaker of the event, lauded the Network for coming up with people-oriented programmes that target youths’ self-growth in the 21st century.
The erudite scholar, who delivered the paper titled: “Entrepreneurship and Leadership Skills in the 21st Century”, urged the participants to emulate the leadership virtues of African leaders from the state such as Othman Dan Fodiyo, who founded Sokoto Caliphate and Ahmadu Bello, the late Northern Premier.
According to him: “Leadership is not a position or a title; it is action and example that is visioning, inspiring trust and integrity as well as relationship-building and management that motivates others.”
Nuhu urged the participants to embrace leadership and entrepreneurship that must be taken seriously to achieve continuous well-being and sound prosperity.
His words: “New strategic thinking is required to solve challenges beyond the thinking level that leads to the challenges. Hence, continuous learning and development is necessary.”
Chairman of the occasion, Alhaji Rahamaniyya Abdulrahman, who was represented by the Managing Director, Rahamaniyya Fertiliser Company, Mr. Satish Sing, advised the youths to engage in small-scale businesses for self-development.
Other speakers include Professor Sabo Yabo, who delivered a training module titled: “Introducing Young People to Effective Entrepreneurship and Business Skills”, and Professor TK Baba, who delivered a training module titled: “Exposing Youths to Modern Leadership Ideas of the 21st Century”.
Tunde Omolehin is an award-winning Journalist with prose in investigative and storytelling that is connecting the dots between the under-reported communities and policymakers to ensure good governance and accountability.
