Sultan, YABATECH Partner On Education, Community Devt

Foundation for Peace and Development, belonging to the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, is forging a partnership with Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), to advance education, healthcare and youth empowerment across Nigeria.

The pact was unveiled during a courtesy visit by the delegation from the foundation, led by its director, Malam Aminu Inuwa Muhammad, to the college.

They were received by the rector, Dr Ibraheem Adedotun Abdul and other principal officers of the college at the Council Chambers.

In his address to the college management, Muhammad explained that the foundation was established in 2014 under the leadership of His Eminence, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, with a mission to support communities affected by conflict, poverty and insecurity.

Over the years, it has partnered with international organisations such as UNICEF, UN Women, the Bill Gates Foundation and the Malala Foundation on projects ranging from routine immunisation to girls’ education.

He revealed that the foundation is currently working to stop the transmission of circulating variant poliovirus in Northern and Southwestern Nigeria, while also championing routine immunisation and educational programmes for out-of-school children, especially girls.

One of its most ambitious projects, Malam Muhammad added, is the establishment of an all-female university in Sokoto, modelled after the American system, with a focus on nursing, medical laboratory sciences and other health-related courses.

“Our goal is to address the needs of vulnerable communities by providing healthcare, education, and support for young people and partnering with YABATECH offers an opportunity to scale this impact nationwide,” he said.

In his response, Dr Ibraheem Abdul praised the foundation’s initiatives, noting that the college shares similar values of service and community development.

He highlighted YABATECH’s collaborations with UNICEF to provide ICT training for girls aged 13 to 25 as well as medical outreach programmes in underserved areas conducted in partnership with Albasar International.

“Education without community impact is incomplete, and by joining hands with the Sultan Foundation, we can redirect vulnerable youth into productive learning and skills development, while also empowering women and disadvantaged groups,” the rector stated.

Dr. Abdul expressed concern over the growing number of boys affected by drug abuse, stating that the college is designing rehabilitation initiatives to reintegrate them through skills acquisition and education.

He said further that YABATECH is exploring the establishment of a medical university to help bridge Nigeria’s shortage of healthcare professionals.