No fewer than 100 women have enrolled in a new programme that will train, certify and connect female professional drivers with employment opportunities following a partnership between the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT), Zaria, and Workbridge Empowerment Foundation.
The initiative, which is being implemented in collaboration with the Women Drive Nigeria Initiative (WDNI), was formalised through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Monday at the institute’s headquarters in Zaria.
Under the partnership, NITT will provide professional driver training and certification, while Workbridge Empowerment Foundation will mobilise participants for the programme.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Director-General and Chief Executive of NITT, Dr. Bayero Salih Farah, described the initiative as a major step towards bridging the gender gap in Nigeria’s transport sector through the empowerment of women with professional driving skills and sustainable employment opportunities.
Farah said professional drivers should possess more than the ability to operate vehicles, noting that they must also have the knowledge and competence to effectively respond to road incidents and uphold safety standards.
The agreement was signed on behalf of Workbridge Empowerment Foundation by its Team Leader, Mr. Abdullahi Umar, while Farah signed for NITT, assisted by the institute’s Registrar, Dr. Maina W. A. Tarfa.
Earlier, the Director of the Transport Technology Centre, Dr. Joshua Odeleye, underscored the importance of the partnership, describing it as a strategic effort to promote inclusion and expand opportunities for women in the transport industry.
Also present at the event were the Director of the Transport Research and Intelligence Department, Dr. Baba Ibrahim Mundi, the Head of Legal Services, Barr. Davies Job, and other senior officials.
The partnership, according to the institute, is part of NITT’s commitment to building a highly skilled, safety-conscious driving workforce through world-class training, certification and capacity development programmes.
