Yusuf

Yusuf is a 2011 Welding & Fabrication graduand of Total’s Skills Acquisition Program (SAP) in its host community, Makera district, Kaduna. SAP was established in 2008 to empower less privileged youths, through vocational training of their choice, in order to give them opportunities for a brighter future.

Tell us about your experiences during the Skills Acquisition Program

It was an intensive 1 year program between 2010 and 2011 at 2Way Skills Company in Kaduna. Upon completion, Total provided me with two years’ post-paid rented shop at Arewa, Makera and complete work tools that I needed to fully run my own workshop. That was the start of a better part of my life.

In what major way has SAP contributed to your life and your community?

It opened the doors to a new and better life for me, my family and community. I am able to assist my parents in paying school fees and overseeing the upkeep of my siblings. I am the 6^th child in a family of 19 children, so this is a huge responsibility which I am able to manage thanks to Total’s Skills Acquisition Program. I currently have a welding business that is doing very well and I have 13 apprentices undergoing training at my workshops. I have trained 2 youths who have graduated and are also running their own welding businesses. These youths are now positively engaged; they are not wandering or useless but are very useful to the growth of Makera community.

What can you tell us about yourself? Hobbies or milestones?

I am see myself as a gentle man to the core; sometimes quiet. My vision is to achieve great feats in my lifetime. I have achieved a great one with my growing career in Welding & Fabrication, which I believe can take me anywhere I want to be. I plan to delve into lecturing academically in the future whilst still running my Welding business.

In your opinion, how does the Skills Acquisition Program assist Total’s commitment to better energies?

SAP has given hope to my people. It has given assurance of a better future through the quality vocational trainings youths undergo to become contributing members of the community. It has also caused for an harmonious co-existence with my community and this is impacting positively on Total’s commitment to better energies.