The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy and Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman, has called on Nigerian youths to embrace technical skills, entrepreneurship, and lifelong learning to remain relevant in the evolving global workforce.
She made the call while delivering the Pre-Convocation Lecture at the 33rd Convocation Ceremony and 70th Anniversary of Kaduna Polytechnic.
Speaking on the theme, “The New Workforce: Leveraging Technical Training and Research for a Digitally Empowered Nigeria Under the Renewed Hope Agenda,” Bala Usman stressed the need to reposition technical and vocational education as a major driver of economic growth and national development.
She said the future workforce must move beyond academic certificates to become technically competent, digitally skilled, adaptable, entrepreneurial, and solution-oriented.
According to her, Nigeria’s rapidly growing youth population can only become an economic advantage if equipped with practical and industry-relevant skills capable of competing in a technology-driven global economy.
Bala Usman noted that institutions like Kaduna Polytechnic remain critical to achieving this goal through technical education, innovation, and research.
She also highlighted reforms being implemented under the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu through the Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in the areas of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), curriculum modernisation, digital empowerment, and skills acquisition programmes.
The presidential aide called for stronger partnerships between government, educational institutions, industries, development partners, and the private sector to build a sustainable skills ecosystem that supports productivity and inclusive economic growth.
Addressing graduating students, she encouraged them to see themselves not merely as job seekers but as innovators, entrepreneurs, and nation-builders capable of creating value in society.
She further urged the students to uphold integrity, pursue technical excellence, and remain committed to continuous learning in an increasingly digital world.
Bala Usman reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening technical education, research, and digital innovation as part of efforts to build a productive and globally competitive Nigeria.
