Gombe trains 464 youths in skills acquisition

To reduce youth restiveness in Gombe State, the government has kick-started training programme in relevant skills acquisition, to make them independent and self-reliant.

The State’s Commissioner for Economic Planning, Abdullahi Pantami disclosed at the flag-off of the training organised by the state government in conjunction with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in Gombe that about 464 youths and women will be trained in five different trades.

According to him, the remaining 200 Youths and Women were initially trained in 2014-2015 on 10 different trades and would undergo another set of training on how to access funds and established their business.

Pantami, said success recorded in the youths’ programme was as a result of several skills’ acquisition initiatives and re-orientation of youths towards making themselves self-employed and being responsible citizens.

Also, the State commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Mrs. Rabi Daniel, described the training as `timely.’ She urged participants to take advantage of the opportunity offered, to acquire skills that would make them independent and self-reliant in life.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Mr. Adamu Kala, urged the participants to reciprocate government gesture by using the opportunity offered, to secure their future.

Speaking with Newsmen shortly after the occasion, the lead consultant, Prof. Iliya Dongs revealed that the training was aimed at empowering the youths in the state adding that his company would train 30 trainers who would coordinate the training of the 264 women and youths.

Dongs further said that participants would be trained on specific areas like tailoring, fashion design, lumbering, Plaster of Paris (POP) and solar power installation. He affirmed that at the end of the training, participants would be presented with starter kits to commence their own business and become employers of labour in the future.

In a remark, Gombe Branch Manager, Bank of Agriculture (BOA), Malam Adamu Idris said all the participants were qualified to apply for loan in BOA, provided they meet up with the necessary requirements.