Bauchi trains 575 ‘sex workers’ in vocational skills

Bauchi State Government has begun a three-month vocational skills training programme for 575 repentant sex workers from Bayan Gari area of Bauchi metropolis to empower them and discourage prostitution.

Permanent Commissioner in Charge of the Bauchi Hisbah Department, Alhaji Aminu Balarabe, stated this at the inauguration of the programme, yesterday, in Bauchi.

Balarabe said the state government had initiated a vocational training programme for erstwhile sex workers to fast-track their re-integration into society.

The beneficiaries would be exposed to computer literacy, tailoring, hairdressing, catering, cosmetology, poultry, fishery, micro-enterprises, among others, after which they would be issued certificates of attendance and given working tools and seed capital to start, he noted.

According to the commissioner, the training programme is being implemented in collaboration with the National Directorate of Employment (NDE).

“Prostitution is a dirty trade, which no religion permits its practice due to the hazards associated with it,” Balarabe explained.

He reiterated the commitment of Governor Bala Mohammed’s administration towards empowering Bauchi people through vocational skills and other productive ventures.

Chairman, Bauchi Local Council, Mohammed Baba-Ma’aji, lauded the initiative, adding that it would improve the social and economic wellbeing of the beneficiaries.

He pledged the council’s support to the programme.

Also, Head of Vocational Skills Development, NDE, Jamilu Adamu, cautioned the trainees against laxity, indolence and truancy.

Adamu said the directorate would strictly monitor compliance of the participants, adding: “We will not hesitate to reprimand errant trainees.”

He said the training was part of measures to sanitise Bauchi metropolis as well as make the trainees inventive and productive.

On his part, Chairman, Bauchi State Sharia Commission, Baba Illela, admonished the trainees to be God-fearing in their conduct.