Study of ICT Skill Development Programmes and Youth Employability in Vocational Training Centres in Kaduna State, North West Nigeria

ICT skill development through vocational training is increasingly recognised as a pathway to youth employment and self-employment in Nigeria's digital economy, yet the effectiveness of existing programmes in North West states such as Kaduna in translating training into employment outcomes requires evaluation. This study examines ICT skill development programme content and its relationship with youth employability outcomes at vocational training centres in Kaduna State. A descriptive survey was applied to 240 training centre graduates from four accredited vocational ICT centres in Kaduna, along with 30 programme coordinators. Questionnaire items assessed training programme content (hardware repair, software training, digital marketing, web design, graphic design), certification obtained, post-training employment status, and employer satisfaction ratings. Descriptive statistics and chi-square analysis were computed in SPSS. Available vocational ICT literature from North West Nigeria identifies skills-employer gap, inadequate practical work experience components, and certification non-recognition by employers as the dominant barriers to employment post-training. Human Capital Theory and the Ecological Model of Career Development provide the analytical framework. Findings indicate that graduates trained in graphic design and digital marketing had the highest self-employment rates (61 percent), while hardware repair training produced the highest formal employment placement (42 percent). Recommendations address curriculum alignment with employer skills demand surveys, mandatory internship components, and government-funded equipment upgrades at vocational centres. Keywords: ICT skills, vocational training, youth employability, Kaduna State, North West Nigeria.