Kaduna Fashion School Gives Christian Women a Hand Up
By Mike Odeh James and Luka Binniyat
(Kaduna)- A wave of joy swept through a crime-infested suburb of Kaduna City, Northwest Nigeria, as 30 graduating students of Kings Theological and Technological College received brand-new sewing machines to kickstart their careers in fashion design.
The empowerment, which took place during the institute’s joint inauguration, graduation, and matriculation ceremony on May 17, 2025, saw 29 women and one man graduate as trained tailors.
The new school, simply branded as “Theothech,” is part of a broader vision to combat poverty and anti-Christian attitudes by empowering recipients with skill and support, and to promote Christian values through vocational education.
The beneficiaries come from “Black Street” in the Sabo suburb. The street is notorious as a haven for drugs, prostitution, thuggery and sundry crimes among its youthful population, even though most residents profess the Christian faith, according to Leadership newspaper.
“This is a happy continuation of our intervention in this disadvantaged community to bring willing residents to acquire skills and also to imbibe the values and teachings of the Holy Bible in their lives,” according to Rev. Ayuba David Azzaman, Assistant General Overseer, Kings Chapel Ministry, Kaduna, a partner of the school.
“We have already trained some youth who want rehabilitation and normalcy as former derailed Christian youths, Azzaman added.
“Today marks the matriculation and graduation of some of our Theotech Students,” he said to TruthNigeria.
“We have those that have just matriculated, and we have those that have completed their six months intensive training in our Tailoring School” said Azzaman, known as a fiery preacher and defender of the Christian faith in Nigeria.
“This area of Sabo, in Kaduna is known as “Black Street” because there are so many youths involved in drugs, violence and other associated crimes here even though they come from Christian backgrounds,” he said.
“But we got some of them off the street, trained them in tailoring skills and gave them sewing machines and starter packs.
“This ‘Black Street’ by the grace of God, we shall turn into ‘Light Street,’ if we sustain this intervention,” he said.
“That’s true today for some of the women we have trained through the collaborative efforts of our partners and sponsors,” according to Azzaman.
“This is to show the world that even as I am more known for standing up against the killings, kidnapping and suppressing of Christians in the Northern part of Nigeria, our ministry is also working toward bringing our lost sheep to Christ through skills acquisition,” he said.
Rev. Dr. Sam Magai Albert, the founder and president of Theotech, described the graduation as the fulfillment of a ten-year dream.
“This has been my vision for over ten years—to establish an educational institution that teaches Christians how to be self-employed, productive, and committed to living godly lives,” Albert said.
Each of the graduates was given a two-line industrial sewing machine, a move that Albert believes will transform the economic prospects of the beneficiaries. He added that the empowerment project was made possible through a strategic partnership with the U.S.-based organization, Heartland International Ministries (HIM), Lenexa, Kansas, whose Executive Director is Mr. Byron Whetstone.
“HIM in the USA partnered with us to empower these 29 women and one man, as well as their trainers with sewing machines worth thousands of US dollars,” Albert said.
“We believe many of them will become self-sufficient, innovative, and start generating income immediately. Nigerian fabrics and clothing styles are increasingly gaining recognition in the United States, and we expect some of our graduates to begin exporting their work abroad,” he said.
Faith Meets Practical Change
The location of the theological and vocational school was a deliberate choice, strategically sited at ‘Black Street,”
Albert emphasized.
“By the grace of God, we have succeeded in removing many young people from the streets, guiding them spiritually, and empowering them with legitimate skills to earn a living,” he explained.
“Our goal is to transform what is known today as Black Street into a ‘White Street” which is a symbol of purity, renewal, and hope” he told TruthNigeria.
Graduates Share Their Joy
Several of the new graduates expressed gratitude and optimism as they received their machines. They described the support from Theotech as life-changing, pledging to make the most of the opportunity.
One of the recipients, who preferred to remain anonymous, said:
“This is more than just a sewing machine,” she said.
‘It’s a ticket to a new life. I can now work, support my family, and stay away from negative influences.”
Another graduate added:
“The training and spiritual guidance we received have changed our lives. We are not just tailors—we are Christian entrepreneurs,” she told ThruthNigeria.
A Model for Holistic Development
Theotech’s unique blend of theology and technology education is positioning it as a model for holistic development in Nigeria. Its curriculum combines biblical teachings with practical skills, targeting communities plagued by poverty and social decay.
The institution plans to expand its outreach and vocational programs in the coming years, with the aim of replicating the success recorded in Sabo across other parts of the country, Albert told TruthNigeria.
“This is only the beginning. We are determined to raise a new generation of Christians who are both spiritually grounded and economically empowered,” he added.
Luka Binniyat and Mike Odeh James are conflict reporters for TruthNigeria in Northern Nigeria.
