NITT, partner foundation for training women as professional drivers

The Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT), Zaria, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Workbridge Empowerment Foundation to train, certify and facilitate employment opportunities for women as professional drivers across Nigeria.

The partnership, signed at the institute’s headquarters in Zaria, will be implemented under the Women Drive Nigeria Initiative (WDNI), with more than 100 women already registered for the pilot phase.

Under the agreement, NITT will provide training and certification for professional drivers, while the Workbridge Empowerment Foundation will mobilize and support program participants.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, NITT Director General and CEO Dr. Bayero Salih Farah described the collaboration as a milestone in efforts to close the gender gap in the transportation sector and expand economic opportunities for women.

She said the initiative would provide women with the technical skills and professional certification needed to build sustainable careers in the transportation sector.

Farah noted that professional driving goes beyond operating a vehicle, stressing that drivers must also possess the knowledge and skills to appropriately respond to road emergencies and ensure safety.

“This partnership is not just about training women to drive professionally; it is also about creating decent jobs, promoting road safety and increasing female participation in a traditionally male-dominated sector,” she said.

The team leader of Workbridge Empowerment Foundation, Mr. Abdullahi Umar, signed the agreement on behalf of the foundation, while the Director General of NITT signed for the institution, with the Registrar, Dr. Maina WA Tarfa, as witness.

Previously, Director of the Transport Technology Center (TTC), Dr Joshua Odeleye, said the partnership reflects a shared commitment to skills development, women’s empowerment and safer road transport.

Other officials at the ceremony included Director of Transport Research and Intelligence Dr Baba Ibrahim Mundi and Head of Legal Services Barr. Davies Job and the institute’s management staff.

The collaboration, according to NITT, strengthens the institute’s commitment to producing a highly skilled, safety-conscious and globally competitive workforce through world-class training, certification and skill-building programs.