Gov. Uba Sani Redeems ₦30m Pledge To Kaduna Young Innovators
Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, has redeemed his ₦30 million pledge to young innovators in the state, providing financial support to help advance projects in technology, scientific research and innovation.
The grants, initially announced by the governor at the 2026 International Youth Day Conference in Kaduna, were presented to beneficiaries at the Ministry of Youth Development.
Among the beneficiaries are a team of computer engineering students from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, who developed a smart walking aid for visually impaired persons.
Also supported were Al-Amin Mohammed Idris and Shamsudeen Jibril, winners of the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI) NEXTGEN Challenge.
Another beneficiary, Fauziyya Muhammad Auwal of Kaduna State University (KASU), is the founder of ASTHERA, a space technology initiative. She is a female astronaut candidate with Titan Space Industries and was selected as Nigeria's first female analogue astronaut for the 2026 LunAres Research Station mission in Poland.
Eight microchip designers selected for specialised training under the Kaduna State Human Capital Development Initiative also received financial support.
Presenting the cheques on behalf of the governor, Commissioner for Youth Development, Gloria Ibrahim, said the intervention reflected the administration's effort to translate youth empowerment commitments into practical support.
“His Excellency Governor Uba Sani decided to provide financial support to these young people to help them take their innovations further,” Ibrahim said.
She said the Ministry of Youth Development was established to support young people and urged the beneficiaries to use the resources to expand their projects and contribute to the development of Kaduna State.
Ibrahim explained that some of the innovators were unable to present their projects at the International Youth Day Conference because of time constraints. She said the governor subsequently directed that they should also benefit from the intervention.
Speaking at the presentation, Commissioner for Information and Culture, Malam Ahmed Maiyaki, described the ₦30 million grant as an investment in young people's ideas, research and future.
“This ₦30 million is an investment in your ideas, research and future,” Maiyaki said, urging the beneficiaries to use the support to deepen their research and develop practical solutions.
He said the intervention formed part of the state government's broader youth and human-capital development programme, which he said had supported local innovators and exposed them to international opportunities.
Maiyaki also cited government investments in education and infrastructure, including an eight-kilometre road project at ABU, Zaria, as well as the involvement of young people in governance.
He said more than 40 per cent of the state's political appointees are below the age of 40.
The commissioner urged the beneficiaries to see the grants as seed funding for further achievements rather than an end in itself.
“What matters ultimately is not the amount presented today, but what you build with it,” he said.
“Kaduna has talented young people capable of developing solutions to real problems. Government's responsibility is to create the environment, open doors and provide the support that enables good ideas to move from laboratories and workshops into solutions that improve lives.”
The Kaduna State Government reaffirmed its commitment to expanding opportunities for young people in technology, skills development, entrepreneurship and research across the state.
Comments
Post a Comment