The Southern Kaduna Aid Foundation (SKAID Foundation), in partnership with the Embassy of the Republic of Poland, has trained 100 participants in entrepreneurship and digital marketing to promote business growth and economic empowerment in Southern Kaduna.
The one-day entrepreneurship skills workshop, held on Thursday October 15, at Trophy Hotel, Barnawa, Kaduna, brought together 50 participants, following a similar exercise conducted in Kafanchan on Monday, which also benefited 50 participants.
The training focused on equipping participants with practical knowledge and digital tools to improve their businesses, expand their customer base and respond to the challenges of unemployment through entrepreneurship.
Speaking on the foundation’s objectives, its Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Rear Admiral Ferguson Bobai (Rtd), said the organisation was established to support indigenous people of Southern Kaduna, particularly those who lack access to formal training in managing small-scale businesses.
He said the foundation has also been involved in skills acquisition programmes, educational support and other empowerment initiatives aimed at improving livelihoods across the region.
The chairman disclosed that about 20 men and women were currently undergoing vocational training at the Andy and Maryam Yakubu Skills Acquisition Centre in Zango, Kaduna State.
The trainees are learning skills such as solar installation, electrical installation, beauty and makeup, and are expected to receive starter packs after completing their training to help them establish their businesses.
He added that the foundation had previously trained artisans at the centre and was also sponsoring students in tertiary institutions, including Kaduna State University and Ahmadu Bello University, covering tuition and accommodation from their first year until graduation.
On the challenges facing the organisation, the chairman identified funding as a major constraint, explaining that limited resources had restricted the duration and number of beneficiaries of some programmes.
He expressed the foundation’s desire to expand its workshops to accommodate more participants and run for two to three days, while calling for greater government support and partnerships to strengthen its empowerment initiatives.
Also speaking, the Executive Director of SKAID Foundation, Mr. Bello Hosea Bisalla, said the organisation was established in July 2024 to work with communities in Southern Kaduna towards achieving sustainable development.
Bisalla explained that the foundation provides technical support to communities in areas including education, healthcare, economic empowerment, democracy and good governance, agriculture, and entrepreneurship.
He said the foundation’s focus was not merely on the number of beneficiaries reached but on the lasting impact of its interventions.
According to him, the foundation reached approximately 6,000 people through medical outreaches in the previous year, awarded full scholarships to about 36 students, trained approximately 40 people in vocational skills, and provided grants to about 1,000 people engaged in micro and small businesses.
He added that another 20 people were currently receiving skills training with support from the Polish Embassy.
The executive director said the foundation was established through the collective contributions of sons and daughters of Southern Kaduna who wanted to give back to their communities. He noted that the organisation also sought support from international partners and individuals to sustain its programmes.
Bisalla stressed the importance of collaboration with government, describing the foundation’s activities as complementary to government efforts towards development.
He explained that some of the foundation’s previous medical outreaches were conducted in government-owned facilities, adding that the organisation remained committed to working with government and other partners to address development challenges in underserved communities.
He called on sons and daughters of Southern Kaduna to support the foundation’s work, describing it as a platform through which people could contribute to the development of their communities.
In her remarks, a member of the foundation’s Board of Trustees, Sarah Amos Gandu, said the 50 participants at the Barnawa workshop were selected through an online application process advertised on Facebook and other social media platforms.
Gandu explained that the workshop was fully funded by the Embassy of the Republic of Poland and formed part of the foundation’s broader efforts to empower youths and women in Southern Kaduna.
She disclosed that the foundation had previously organised empowerment and skills acquisition programmes, including training in animation.
According to her, the organisation intends to sustain the entrepreneurship workshops and introduce a mentorship programme to support participants after the training.
She said participants would be connected with mentors who could guide them through business challenges and help them apply the knowledge acquired during the workshop.
Some participants who spoke with our correspondent expressed satisfaction with the training, describing it as an opportunity to improve their understanding of digital marketing and business development.
One of them, Elisha Bala, who is involved in the travel business, said the workshop had broadened his understanding of digital marketing and the opportunities it offers for reaching customers beyond one’s immediate location.
Bala explained that before the training, he believed he could only attract customers within the area where his business operated.
He said he had now learnt how digital marketing tools could help him reach prospective customers outside Kaduna.
Another participant, Anthony Emmanuella, said the workshop had deepened her knowledge of social media management and marketing strategies.
She explained that the training had reinforced the importance of identifying target customers, understanding their needs and developing appropriate strategies to promote business growth.
Similarly, Genesis Karami Moses, Chief Executive Officer of Karina Travel, described the workshop as an enriching experience that had exposed areas of digital marketing in which he needed further knowledge.
Moses said the training had helped him recognise the importance of identifying a specific target audience and developing a unique selling proposition for his travel and tourism business.
He noted that business owners needed to understand their target markets and distinguish their services from those of competitors to improve their chances of success.
The organisers said participants were expected to receive certificates upon completion of the training, with the planned mentorship initiative providing further support as they apply the skills acquired to their businesses.