NITT Launches Career Pathway for Women in Transportation with 100-Driver Training Initiative

By Omoyeni Ojeifo

No fewer than 100 women are set to begin careers as professional drivers as the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT), Zaria, partners with Workbridge Empowerment Foundation to provide training, certification and employment pathways in the nation’s transport sector.

The initiative, being implemented under the Women Drive Nigeria Initiative (WDNI), is aimed at increasing women’s participation in a sector traditionally dominated by men while equipping them with the skills required to become certified professional drivers.

The partnership was formalised on Monday through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at NITT’s headquarters in Zaria.

Under the agreement, NITT will provide professional driver training and certification, while Workbridge Empowerment Foundation will mobilise participants for the programme.

Dr Bayern Salih Farah, NITT Director-General/CEO, said the collaboration would help bridge the gender gap in the transport sector by creating opportunities for women to acquire professional skills and build sustainable careers.

Farah noted that professional driving requires more than the ability to operate a vehicle, stressing that drivers must possess technical knowledge, safety awareness and the capacity to manage road situations effectively.

The MoU was signed by Farah on behalf of NITT and Mr. Abdullahi Umar, Team Leader of Workbridge Empowerment Foundation, with the Registrar of the Institute, Dr. Maina W.A. Tarfa, assisting during the ceremony.

Adding to the significance of the partnership,Dr. Joshua Odeleye the Director of the Transport Technology Centre (TTC), highlighted the importance of the partnership in building a skilled transport workforce through capacity development.

The event was attended by other NITT officials, including the Director of Transport Research and Intelligence Department, Dr. Baba Ibrahim Mundi, and the Head of Legal Services, Barr. Davies Job.

The partnership reflects its commitment to expanding access to professional driver training, certification and the development of a safety-conscious workforce in Nigeria’s transport sector.