By Muhammad Sani Muazu
In a significant move aimed at empowering students with disabilities, the Women Farmers Advancement Network (WOFAN) has donated skills acquisition equipment to the Special Education Centre in Bauchi under its WOFAN ICON 2 Project. The equipment, which includes materials for welding, carpentry, and tailoring, is intended to provide students with the practical skills needed to become self-reliant after their education.
During the handing-over ceremony, Hajiya Asabe Yahaya Muhammad, the Principal of the Special Education Centre, expressed her deep appreciation for WOFAN’s continued support. “We really appreciate this gesture,” she said, noting that the students were excited about the equipment and had already begun organizing themselves into various skill groups, including welding, tailoring, and carpentry. “These students are very happy, they are anxious to start.”
Hajiya Asabe stressed the importance of vocational skills for students with disabilities, particularly given the challenges they face in securing employment after graduation. “Getting good results does not matter, what really matters is that they have something to do with their hands,” she emphasized. She noted that many former students now on teaching practice could benefit from such skills as they transition into the workforce. “They will graduate and wait for government jobs, which are not forthcoming, but with these skills, they can be self-reliant.”
Shafi’u Haladu, the State Team Lead for the WOFAN ICON 2 Project in Bauchi, explained the rationale behind the donation. “In our community, even for those without disabilities, it is difficult to find work after secondary school. For people living with disabilities, it’s even harder,” he said. The skills acquisition program is designed to address this issue by equipping students with practical skills that will enable them to become financially independent.
Haladu highlighted the various sections established at the school under the project, including welding and fabrication, carpentry, and tailoring. He also noted that WOFAN had previously collaborated with the school on agricultural initiatives, cultivating one hectare of maize with the students, with plans to continue farming during the dry season.
Both the school and the organization see these initiatives as vital steps in preparing students for life beyond education. “We chose this school because of their peculiarities as persons with disabilities,” Haladu added. “Now, when these students graduate, they will have something to do with their lives.”
As Nigeria faces increasing unemployment, especially among graduates, the Principal urged the public to prioritize skill acquisition. “The certificate is no longer working now; it is our hands that can work,” she stated, sharing inspiring stories of blind students excelling in fields such as solar panel repair and shoemaking.
The WOFAN ICON 2 Project continues to make strides in supporting marginalized communities, and this donation represents another milestone in the organization’s efforts to empower young people through vocational training.
