Sokoto Govt Urges Graduates To Embrace Self-Employment Through Public Speaking

The Sokoto Professional Network (SPN) has organized a capacity-building workshop aimed at equipping students and young graduates with vital skills in public speaking, report writing, and presentation.

Declaring the workshop open, Governor Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto urged the participants to embrace self-employment and leverage opportunities from training in public speaking, report writing, presentation skills, and other entrepreneurial ventures that can enhance their career prospects and contribute to the state’s development.

The governor who was represented by the Commissioner for higher education professor Isah Mai- Shanu said that skills such as public speaking, report writing, and effective presentation have become essential for graduates to compete favorably in the modern workplace.

He assured of his administration’s continuous support for initiatives aimed at equipping students and young graduates with practical knowledge that would enhance their career prospects, adding that “knowledge is the best gift you can give a human being”

Speaking at the event, SPN Chairman Zayynu Tambari Yabo said the training was designed to address gaps in Nigeria’s educational system, which he noted often overlooks soft skills critical to professional and entrepreneurial success.

“We want our graduates and students to be more effective in communication, report writing, and presentation skills. These are areas not adequately covered in our schools but are essential for career growth and business opportunities,” he explained.

He noted that the workshop, which brought together more than 130 SPN members from across Sokoto State, underscored proposal writing as a vital skill for accessing both local and international grants.

Also speaking the Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar commended the initiative, describing it as timely in addressing youth unemployment and reducing dependence on government jobs.

Represented by the district head of Gagi Alhaji Sani Umar Jabbi, the Sultan urged the Sokoto State Government to continue supporting such non-governmental initiatives, noting their alignment with the administration’s development agenda.

Also speaking, the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment AGILE coordinator in Sokoto Dr. Mansur Isah praised the SPN for creating a platform to nurture essential communication skills. He reminded the participants that effective communication remains a powerful tool for personal and professional advancement.

“Many people underestimate communication, but it is one of the strongest currencies of success. Relationships and careers thrive or collapse based on communication,” he said.

The workshop featured lectures, interactive sessions, and practical exercises designed to build participants’ confidence in public communication and sharpen their writing abilities.

Photos of Prof Jerry Gana at the NOSCEF event in Kaduna.