Renewed Mind, Renewed Hope: Kaduna Initiative Trains Okada Riders, Empowers Students

The Renewed Mind for Renewed Hope Initiative has intensified its community outreach in Kaduna State with road safety training for commercial motorcyclists and vocational skills development for secondary school students.

The initiative, inspired by the vision of Seyi Tinubu, is built around the belief that sustainable development requires not only government policies but also a change in the mindset of citizens.

Organisers said the programme seeks to promote discipline, responsibility, self-worth and practical skills among young people and other members of the community.

Road Safety Training for Motorcyclists

As part of the initiative, commercial motorcyclists, popularly known as okada riders, drawn from different parts of Kaduna State were registered and kitted with branded materials before receiving training on road safety rules and responsible riding.

Organisers said the objective was to remind riders that while they carry the lives of passengers, their own lives are equally valuable and must be protected.

A facilitator said the training was designed to go beyond enforcement and traffic regulations by encouraging riders to develop a safety-conscious mindset.

“We are not just preaching to them. It is to renew their minds and let them know that is very, very important,” the facilitator said.

A Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) official also participated in the training, encouraging riders to obtain formal driving certification through licensed driving schools.

The officer explained that motorcycle and tricycle licensing could be completed within a short period, urging the riders to take advantage of formal training.

“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 facilitators also emphasised the importance of patience and caution at intersections.

One of the safety messages encouraged riders to wait briefly after a traffic light turns green before proceeding, as a precaution against possible collisions involving vehicles that may still be clearing the intersection.

A participant said the training had helped him understand that commercial motorcyclists have a responsibility not only to themselves but also to their passengers.

The organisers said motorcycle-related crashes remain a major road safety concern in Nigeria. They cited National Bureau of Statistics data from 2019, which recorded 10,522 motorcycle accidents, resulting in 4,979 deaths and 5,543 injuries.

They attributed the vulnerability of motorcycle users partly to the widespread use of motorcycles for commercial transportation and limited access to formal driving instruction among some riders.

The initiative said the Kaduna training would not be a one-off exercise, with additional sessions planned across the state.

Students Receive Culinary Skills Training

The Renewed Mind for Renewed Hope Initiative also took its youth empowerment campaign to All Success Academy in Guningora, Kaduna State, where secondary school students received practical training in shawarma and burger production.

The training was designed to combine vocational exposure with lessons on character, discipline, patience and self-reliance.

Project Coordinator, Victor Yusuf, said the initiative was founded on the belief that meaningful change 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.

Under the guidance of Chef Tayo, the students were taken through the various stages of preparing shawarma and burgers, including seasoning, grilling, assembling and packaging the meals.

The practical session also featured a competition, with students divided into teams to demonstrate the skills they had acquired.

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 with the kitchen activities.

The completed meals were distributed among students, staff and guests, turning the training into both a learning experience and a community engagement.

Some of the students said they gained lessons beyond cooking, including kitchen hygiene, patience and consistency.

One participant said the skill could provide an avenue to earn income after secondary school, while another described the programme as a new experience for the school community and expressed appreciation to the organisers.

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

The students wore branded T-shirts and caps bearing the Renewed Mind for Renewed Hope insignia during the programme.

Organisers said the combination of practical skills training and character development was intended to give young people tools they could apply beyond the classroom.

They said the broader Renewed Mind for Renewed Hope Initiative would continue with additional programmes aimed at promoting safer communities, youth empowerment and responsible citizenship across Kaduna State.

The organisers maintain that the central message of the initiative is that renewed hope can only become sustainable when individuals develop a renewed mindset built around discipline, responsibility, safety and self-belief.