Renewed Mind, Renewed Hope: Kaduna Initiative Trains Okada Riders, Equips Students With Skills

The Renewed Mind for Renewed Hope Initiative has stepped up its community intervention programmes in Kaduna State, combining road safety training for commercial motorcyclists with vocational skills development for secondary school students.

The initiative, inspired by the vision of Seyi Tinubu, is focused on promoting responsible behaviour, discipline, self-worth and practical empowerment as part of efforts to build safer and more productive communities.

Initiative Targets Commercial Motorcyclists

As part of the programme, commercial motorcyclists, popularly known as okada riders, were brought together in Kaduna for a road safety training session.

The riders were registered and provided with branded kits before being taken through traffic regulations, defensive riding and other measures aimed at reducing road crashes.

The organisers said the programme was designed to change the mindset of riders and remind them that their lives are as important as those of the passengers they transport.

A facilitator said the exercise was intended to create a lasting culture of responsible road use.

“We regard this training not as a final goal, but as the beginning of a culture that will inform how riders conduct themselves going forward,” the facilitator said.

An official of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) also participated in the training and encouraged the riders to undergo formal driving instruction and obtain the appropriate licences.

“There’s a driving school you can enroll in. The licence course is just one week for a motor car, but for motorcycles and tricycles, it’s less. So try and enroll,” the FRSC facilitator said.

The training also emphasised patience at traffic lights and the need for riders to avoid taking unnecessary risks.

One of the participants said he learnt that riders should exercise patience even when a traffic signal turns green, including allowing a brief interval before moving, to reduce the possibility of collisions.

The organisers cited 2019 National Bureau of Statistics figures showing that 10,522 motorcycle accidents were recorded that year, resulting in 4,979 deaths and 5,543 injuries.

They said the figures underscored the need for continuous education, particularly because motorcycles remain an important means of commercial transportation in several parts of Nigeria.

The initiative said additional road safety training sessions would be organised in other locations across Kaduna State.

Students Receive Culinary Training

The programme also extended its empowerment activities to All Success Academy, Guningora, where secondary school students received practical training in the preparation of shawarma and burgers.

The organisers said the exercise was designed to expose young people to income-generating skills while reinforcing lessons on character, discipline, patience and self-confidence.

Project Coordinator, Victor Yusuf, said the initiative was based on the conviction that positive transformation begins with a change in mindset.

“The reason for this renewed mind project is, to renew the mind of young youth; there cannot be a renewed home without a renewed mind,” Yusuf said.

Chef Tayo led the practical session, teaching the students how to prepare the meals from the initial seasoning and grilling stages to assembly and packaging.

The students were subsequently divided into teams for a friendly cooking competition.

Riches Enokela and Pindar Hyelkuzuku participated in the burger category, while Patricia Patrick and Michael Christopher competed in shawarma preparation. Halimatu Sadia Dende and David Christopher assisted during the exercise.

The students later shared the meals they prepared with their colleagues, teachers and guests.

Participants said the training taught them more than cooking, with some highlighting lessons in hygiene, patience and consistency.

One student said the skill could serve as a source of income after secondary school, while another described the training as a significant new experience for the school.

Rehila Christopher, wife of the school director, represented the school community, while community elder and Mai Angwan Galadima, Yakubu Audu, also attended the programme.

The students were dressed in branded T-shirts and caps bearing the Renewed Mind for Renewed Hope logo throughout the event.

Organisers said the youth empowerment programme would continue alongside the road safety campaign, with further activities planned across Kaduna State.

They said the initiative’s broader objective is to promote a culture in which safety, discipline, responsibility, practical skills and self-belief become part of everyday life.

According to the organisers, the programme is founded on the principle that renewed hope can only be sustained when individuals and communities embrace a renewed mindset.