Kaduna State invests in young innovators
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Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State, Nigeria, awarded N3 million each to young innovators during the 2026 International Youth Day Conference.
For years, Nigeria has struggled to convert the energy of its young people into economic growth, often lacking the connection between new ideas and real opportunities. Governor Sani intends to shift youth empowerment from promises to practical investment by supporting diverse projects and talent across the state.
Among those receiving funding were computer engineering students from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, who created a walking aid for people with visual impairments, and Fauziyya Muhammad Auwal of Kaduna State University, recognised as Nigeria’s first female analogue astronaut candidate. Eight microchip designers and the winners of the National Board for Technology Incubation NEXTGEN Challenge also received support.
Sani emphasized the need for young people to develop skills for dignified livelihoods, and to move beyond simply using technology to designing and building it. He pledged to expand skills training and access to finance, acknowledging that many innovations fail due to lack of capital. The Kaduna State Ministry of Youth Development, established in 2025, is coordinating programs and partnerships to support these efforts, including new skills and vocational centers.
The governor also encouraged young people to overcome barriers related to background and circumstance, fostering inclusive development.
