Katsina Vocational Training Center

Katsina Vocational Training Centre is a non-governmental vocational training and youth empowerment organization based in Katsina, Nigeria. The center was established in the year 2000 by the late Inspector General of Police, Muhammadu Dikko Yusufu (commonly referred to as M.D. Yusuf), to combat youth unemployment and promote self-reliance through skill acquisition.^[1] The center is now considered as one of the successful vocational training center in Nigeria.^[2][3]

MD Yusufu established the center to empower vulnerable youth, women, physically challenged individuals, and inmates across all 34 local government areas of Katsina State. The Centre intentionally targets demoralized young people, offering them vocational training and rehabilitation to foster self-reliance.^[1] The center locates at MD Yusuf Street, Kerau Quarters, Katsina, it provides training under a visionary framework set by M.D. Yusuf himself. A notable legacy is the daily library period, which he personally mandated to instil a culture of literacy and lifelong learning among trainees.^[4] As at 2018, KVTC has empowered over 11,900 individuals, including 2,770 inmates at the NDLEA facility and 870 at Katsina Correctional Centre, all sourced from across the state. These efforts significantly reduce dependence on government jobs and help curb insecurity.^[1]

Training programs range from tailoring, shoe-making, computer literacy, welding, to auto-mechanics, among others. This wide array of vocational offerings ensures inclusivity and relevance to various socioeconomic needs.^[5] The center remained under close supervision of its founder until he died in April 2015. However, to ensure sustained governance and continuity beyond his lifetime, in 2014 he appointed Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II of Kano as KVTC Chairman.^[6]

The Katsina Vocational Training Centre (KVTC) aims to equip individuals particularly from the 34 local government areas of Katsina State with practical vocational skills and business starter kits. Its core objectives include fostering self-reliance, reducing over-dependence on government employment, and rehabilitating demoralized youth, especially those affected by drug abuse or political violence.^[7][2]

Katsina Vocational Training Centre offers training in a wide range of fields:^[8]

• Tailoring and Fashion Design
• Shoe Making and Leatherwork
• Electrical Wiring and Welding
• Motor and Auto Mechanics
• Carpentry
• GSM Phone Repair and Logging
• Computer and Internet Management
• Fish Farming, Catering, Bakery & Restaurant Services
• Driving Instruction

A unique element of the Centre’s training model is the daily library session, a legacy of the founder aimed at promoting literacy and independent research.

Since its establishment in 2000, the Katsina Vocational Training Centre (KVTC) has empowered over 11,900 individuals from all 34 local government areas of Katsina State. This includes targeted rehabilitation and skills development for marginalized groups. Notably, the Centre has trained 2,770 inmates at the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) facility in Katsina, as well as 870 inmates at the Katsina Correctional Centre, helping to reintegrate them into society through gainful skill acquisition. These achievements demonstrate KVTC’s commitment not only to youth empowerment but also to correctional and rehabilitation services.^[1]

In August 2021, when the Centre marked International Youth Day by empowering 315 young people with startup tools, including sewing and knitting machines, fashion design kits, and seed capital. This initiative aimed to foster self-employment and reduce dependency on government jobs. According to Hotpen News and Radio Nigeria Kaduna, this event reaffirmed KVTC’s hands-on, direct-action approach to grassroots skills development.

In 2025, KVTC secured 3,500 training slots through the Federal Government’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme. Through this initiative, trainees received certified instruction, stipends, entrepreneurship support, and starter kits. The partnership marked a national recognition of the Centre’s credibility and its alignment with Nigeria’s vocational education framework.^[9]

Further reinforcing its impact, in July 2025, the Centre celebrated the graduation of 634 trainees across 15 vocational trades, including tailoring, carpentry, auto mechanics, welding, and GSM phone repair. Each graduate received trade-specific starter packs to launch their own businesses. The graduation ceremony, covered by Katsina Times,^[10] Leadership Newspaper, and Whistle NG, was attended by Governor Dikko Radda, who praised the program and pledged to expand its reach. Plans were also announced to introduce 10 new training departments to meet increasing demand.^[11]