From Muawuya Bala Idris, Katsina
The Katsina State Bureau of Statistics has commenced a comprehensive training programme for students of tertiary institutions in the state on data analysis and career guidance, as part of efforts to build youth capacity in digital and analytical skills.
The training, tagged ‘Data Analysis and Empowerment Bootcamp 2025’, is being organised in collaboration with the Gwagware Foundation, a non-governmental organisation committed to educational and technological advancement.
The development was disclosed during the opening ceremony held in Katsina, where the State Statistician General, Professor Saifullahi Sani-Matazu, said the programme was designed to bridge the practical knowledge gap among students and equip them with the tools required for 21st-century data handling.
“We organised this training to build the capacity of final-year students on data analysis using hybrid methods,” Sani-Matazu said.
“With the support of the state government, we have procured enterprise versions of expensive software and will install them free of charge on students’ devices to enhance their project and research work.”
He explained that the Bureau intends to engage the trained students as ad-hoc staff in future data collection and survey exercises.
According to him, the initiative would not only strengthen the state’s data systems but also empower young people to generate income through freelance analysis and consultancy.
“These students can use the software to support others in data collection, analysis, and report writing,” he added. “They can stand on their own, employ others, and make a living from the skills they acquire.”
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Higher, Technical and Vocational Education, Muhammad Isah-Musa, commended the initiative, noting that it would inspire innovation and digital competence among young people in Katsina State.
“This training is important because it catches students young,” the commissioner said. “The world today is powered by data, and our youths must understand its role in decision-making, governance, and economic development.”
Earlier, the Chairman of the Gwagware Foundation, Alhaji Yusuf Ali-Musa, described the training as the first of its kind in the state. He urged participants to maximise the opportunity and contribute meaningfully to the progress of Katsina and the nation.
Ali-Musa added that the foundation would provide computers to assist the students during the bootcamp, while ICT experts would deliver technical sessions on data analytics, software use, and professional career guidance.