By Rabiu Sanusi
Kano State has hosted the 52nd Annual Conference and Workshop of the Home Economics Teachers Association of Nigeria (HETAN) where Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf called for the repositioning of Home Economics education to promote innovation, self-reliance, entrepreneurship, job creation and sustainable development.
Governor Yusuf, who was represented by the Secretary to the Kano State Government, Alhaji Umar Faruk Ibrahim, who delivered his address before participants drawn from the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
The conference was held under the theme, “Repositioning the Teaching of Home Economics for Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Development in Nigeria.”
The Governor said Home Economics had gone beyond traditional household management, noting that the discipline now covers areas including food and nutrition, fashion and textile production, hospitality, family resource management and entrepreneurship.
He stressed that the subject should be repositioned as a practical pathway for equipping young people with skills for self-reliance and wealth creation.
He further called for practical training that would enable students to establish businesses and create employment opportunities, while urging the integration of modern technology, Artificial Intelligence (AI), e-commerce, product marketing, financial management and access to markets into Home Economics education.
Governor Yusuf also advocated stronger partnerships among educational institutions, industries, financial institutions, government agencies and development partners to provide modern equipment, practical training, mentorship and apprenticeship opportunities for young people.
He noted that the discipline could also contribute to addressing food waste, environmental degradation and the challenges of rising living costs through efficient resource utilisation and sustainable food production.
In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Kano Educational Resource Department (KERD), Hajiya Rabi Inuwa Hussain, who provided leadership at the conference, stressed the importance of repositioning Home Economics education to equip students with practical and entrepreneurial skills.
She said combining classroom learning with practical training would help produce innovative and self-reliant young people capable of contributing meaningfully to economic development.
The conference was jointly led by Hajiya Rabi Inuwa Hussain and the Kano State Accountant-General, Hajiya Jamila Magaji Abdullahi.
The two leaders contributed to discussions on strengthening Home Economics education and expanding its role in skills development entrepreneurship and employment generation.
The National President of HETAN, Mrs Onothoja Evelyn, commended the Kano State Government for hosting the conference and providing a conducive environment for participants from across the country.
She explained that HETAN goes beyond the teaching of Home Economics, as the discipline plays significant roles in hospitality, healthcare, fashion and textile production, food and beverage, entrepreneurship and community development.
The conference attracted HETAN representatives from the 36 states and the FCT, Educations experts, policymakers and other stakeholders including Dr. Zainab Shehu Hussain and other dignitaries. Participants called for sustained policy support and practical reforms that would transform Home Economics education into a stronger platform for innovation, entrepreneurship, skills development and sustainable economic growth in Nigeria.