FUE Zaria to Train Over 2,000 Artisans, Farmers in IDEAS Project Third Cohort

The Directorate of Skill Development and Linkages (DSD&L) at Federal University of Education, Zaria has hosted a facilities inspection team from the World Bank-supported Innovation Development and Effectiveness in the Acquisition of Skills (IDEAS) Project, under the Federal Ministry of Education (Nigeria).

The visit formed part of an assessment to determine the Centre’s readiness as a designated training hub for the IDEAS Project. During the inspection, the team evaluated multiple sections of the Directorate, including animal husbandry, poultry, fisheries, solar and electrical installations, computer and networking, as well as building and construction units.

The Directorate is expected to train over 2,000 participants in the third cohort of the IDEAS Project, a Federal Government initiative implemented in partnership with the World Bank. The programme aligns with the policy direction of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, focusing on equipping Nigerians with practical, market-relevant skills.

The inspection team, led by Dr. Okoye and comprising Madam Dinatu and Dr. Bosum, expressed satisfaction with the Centre’s facilities. They described it as one of the most well-equipped training centres assessed under the project and reaffirmed their commitment to sustained collaboration with the institution.

In her remarks, the Director of the Centre, Prof. Amina Sani, welcomed the team and appreciated the positive evaluation. She expressed optimism about continued partnerships and called on the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Yahaya Isa Bunkure, to sustain efforts toward upgrading the Directorate’s facilities to further enhance its training capacity.

The team concluded that the Centre is adequately equipped to host the training programme, which will be delivered in both six-month and one-year cycles.