Yusuf Adam Marafa, YES ‘09, received a grant to conduct Community Vocational Training on Information Communication Technology (CVTICT) for disadvantaged youth in Kaduna State in Nigeria.  Twenty-five youth, men and women between the ages of 15 to 25, participated in the course designed and taught by YES alumni.

The project team facilitated a three month computer workshop which was held twice a week at the YES Alumni Center in Kaduna. Yusuf acted as the lead instructor and was supported by a team of YES alumni. The first day of each week was theoretical training and the second day was a hands-on practicum. Due to the lack of resources in Nigeria, students studying Information Communication Technology (ICT) often do not get hands-on experience with computers. In this case, most of the students had never operated a computer before. Some of these students attended public schools yet had not been taught anything about computers. Some had some knowledge from school, but no hands-on experience and some participants had dropped out of school and thus had no opportunities to learn ICT.

At the end of the three month workshop, the participants received certificates and took part in a graduation ceremony with their parents and friends in attendance.  Several prominent individuals and government representatives attended, including Mr. Ibrahim DanHalilu, from the U.S. Embassy in Abuja, the Honorable Shehu Usman, representative from the Ministry of Transportation, Dr. Adussalal Salamat, from Salamat Hospital,  Barrister Muktar M. Bello, representative of Senator Rufa’i of Tudun Wada Federal Constituency, and Alhajji Tijjani Bello, representative of Kaduna South Chairman. YES alumni and Dr. Saidu Yakubu, the Director of the YES program in Nigeria, which is managed by IRIS, were present.

At the graduation, the American Embassy also presented Yusuf with a certificate of accomplishment. Yusuf reflects on his experience: “It is incredibly exciting for me to be able to finish this purposeful and goal-oriented project which I strongly believe will go a long way in sparking positive changes and will bring a range of benefits for the students. The use of computers is becoming indispensable in our lives, therefore, computer literacy will be the best asset one can get at this time.”

After completing the project, two graduates, Aisha Yusuf and Fatima Yusuf, have since started their own business. Through the support of their family members and donations from people in their community, they opened an Internet café called Lynx First Class Computers located in the Kaduna State University Shopping Centre. The café not only provides them a livelihood but also employs others and provides Internet services for a community which had limited access. They recently spoke about the ICT program and how it helped them create the Internet café. Aisha said, “Computer schools are very expensive. We never thought that one day we would have access to computers let alone have our own Internet café. CVTICT gave us the privilege to learn, explore, and put our experience into practice.”

 The CVTICT Project has helped four participants in passing their computer-based national exams (known as JAMB, Post-UTME, and WAEC). Aisha Yusuf earned admission into the School of Pharmacy at Danfodio University Sokoto. Abdussalam Adullahi Dabo was accepted to Bayero University Kano. Farida Jafaru Suleiman started her tertiary education at the College of Health. Mustapha J. Suleiman earned the privilege to travel to India and represent Nigeria in the Earth Science competition where he received a bronze medal.

Since his return from his YES year, Yusuf founded a non-governmental organization, Youth Volunteer Initiative (YVI), with the aim of providing quality information and education to youth at the grassroots level. The mission of the organization is to empower young people with information, education, good health, and skills required to achieve their full potential in life. YVI conducted 26 projects in different geographical areas of Nigeria since its establishment in 2010.

The NGO also has branches in Kano, Bauchi and Jigawa states. The Bauchi State Chapter, under the leadership of Nura Muhammad (YES ’09), has successfully raised significant funding for an upcoming project, Campaign Against Malaria at Katagun-Azare Local Government Area. Similarly, Muhammad Abubakar, Jigawa State Coordinator of YVI, is currently working closely with his staff and the people of Dutse LGA in planning a charity luncheon to fund the Girl-Child Education Project.

Information on Youth Volunteer Initiative can be found on their website and Facebook page.

Other YES alumni who participated in CVTICT include Bulus Mark, Kamal Adamu, Halima Saidu, Firdausi Abubakar, Samira Muhammad, Nafisa Bala, Bariah Balarabe Musa, Muhammad Mubarak Bello, Ajet Hosea, Sameerah Salman, Karima Diyo, Ummul-khairi Aliyu, Aisha Waziri, Comfort Dumaude, Saeed Ibrahim, and Hashim Muhammad.

Iowa Resource for International Service (IRIS) facilitates the YES program in Nigeria.