Uba Sani receives human capital development champion award

Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has received the Distinguished Human Capital Development Champion Award in recognition of his administration’s investments in education, skills development, youth empowerment and sustainable development.

The award was conferred on him by the Chartered Institute of Human Capital Development of Nigeria (CIHCDN), which said the recognition celebrates the governor’s people-centred policies and commitment to improving the welfare of citizens.

Presented at the Institute’s National Conference held at Merit House, Maitama, Abuja, the award recognises the administration’s initiatives in expanding access to education, healthcare, vocational training, economic opportunities and improved living conditions across Kaduna State.

The Institute said the honour acknowledges exceptional leadership in advancing education, healthcare, rural transformation, financial inclusion, youth empowerment, skills development and capacity building.

It described Governor Sani’s development initiatives as a model of people-centred governance capable of promoting sustainable development and creating better opportunities for residents.

Speaking after receiving the award on the governor’s behalf, the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Ahmed Maiyaki, expressed the Kaduna State Government’s appreciation to the Institute for recognising its commitment to human capital development.

“This recognition is a testament to Governor Uba Sani’s unwavering commitment to placing people at the centre of governance. His Excellency firmly believes that the greatest investment any government can make is in its people, particularly the young, women and the vulnerable,” Mr Maiyaki said.

He highlighted the establishment of three vocational training and skills development centres in Rigachikun, Soba and Saminaka, designed to equip approximately 32,000 young people annually with practical, industry-relevant skills across 14 trades.

“These centres represent a deliberate shift towards building a productive, skilled and economically independent generation. Our objective is to transform young people from job seekers into skilled professionals, entrepreneurs and employers of labour,” he said.

Maiyaki listed the administration’s investments in education, including the construction of 736 classrooms, renovation of more than 1,200 others, recruitment of 10,000 teachers and training of over 33,000 teachers to improve the quality of education and expand access.

He further recalled the reduction of tuition fees in state-owned tertiary institutions by up to 50 per cent, alongside expanded scholarship and bursary programmes aimed at removing financial barriers to education.

On agriculture, the commissioner said the administration had distributed 1,400 truckloads of free fertiliser to 420,000 smallholder farmers, describing the intervention as a significant investment in rural livelihoods, food security and economic empowerment.

“Governor Uba Sani recognises that human capital development goes beyond the classroom. It includes empowering farmers to become more productive, equipping young people with employable skills, strengthening healthcare delivery and creating opportunities for families to achieve economic independence,” he said.

Maiyaki also highlighted investments in healthcare, including the revitalisation of 255 primary healthcare centres, improved welfare for healthcare workers and measures to expand access to quality medical services, particularly in underserved rural communities.

He said the administration’s development agenda was anchored on inclusive governance, ensuring that government interventions and opportunities reached communities regardless of political, religious or ethnic affiliations.

“This award is not merely a recognition of achievements recorded; it is an encouragement to do even more. His Excellency remains resolute in building a Kaduna State where every child has access to quality education, every young person has an opportunity to acquire productive skills, and every citizen has a fair chance to prosper,” Maiyaki added.

The commissioner assured the Institute that the recognition would further strengthen the governor’s resolve to consolidate ongoing reforms and accelerate investments in human capital development.