In a bold move to shape the future of education and youth development in Sokoto State, the Sokoto Professional Network (SPN) has launched a career guidance initiative targeting junior secondary school students across selected schools.
SPN is a coalition of professionals from Sokoto State established in August 2023, comprising experts from both the public and private sectors, driven by a sense of responsibility to give back to their communities.
The network has already executed several impactful programmes, including training over 100 youth in solar installation, entrepreneurship, leadership, and strategic management.
Speaking at the launch of the event, the chairman of SPN, Zayyanu Tambari Yabo, described career guidance as a “very important component” of the educational system that needs to go beyond academic instruction and help students align their education with long-term professional goals.
He said that the programme emphasises early career orientation, with a special focus on empowering girls to make informed decisions about their future paths.
“It is at this formative JS3 stage that students need to decide the careers they wish to pursue so they can choose the right subject combinations in senior secondary school, which decision ultimately shapes their academic and professional futures.”
The initiative comes amid growing concerns over the declining standard of education in Nigeria. Yabo called for a multi-stakeholder approach involving the government, parents, NGOs, and traditional institutions to address the crisis.
He added that education is a collective responsibility, and no society can rise above the quality of education it offers its citizens. This is noted in the need to prepare students for a rapidly changing world shaped by artificial intelligence, blockchain, and other emerging technologies.
He also highlighted the disruptive impact of insecurity on education, especially in Northern Nigeria, while calling for greater community cooperation with security agencies.
Also speaking at the event, the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, represented by the District Head of Gagi, Alhaji Sani Umar Jabbi, praised the organisers’ emphasis on girls, acknowledging the societal disadvantages they face due to cultural and religious sensitivities.
“We are not disputing male leadership as prescribed by religion, but that should not deprive girls of their right to participate, aspire, and lead,” he said.
Jabbi lamented the state’s poor rankings in maternal and child health, as well as high rates of school dropouts, particularly among girls.
He said a society cannot achieve development when human rights are denied, adding that a woman giving birth without a professional attendant is a violation of her rights.
He called for more female professionals in healthcare, emphasising that women are more likely to seek care from female practitioners who understand their needs.
In his remarks, the chairman of the occasion, Alhaji Umaru Ajiya Isa, urged the participating students to focus not just on academic certificates but also on acquiring practical skills that could lead to self-employment and entrepreneurship.
He advised parents to also encourage and allow their children to pursue careers that align with their interests, as undue pressure can lead to long-term dissatisfaction.
He praised SPN’s efforts, noting that such initiatives are crucial to developing the human resources needed for Sokoto State and Nigeria’s growth.
