By Idris Shehu
A number of 200 youths selected from twenty Local Government Areas of Bauchi state are soon to undergo skills acquisition training at the International Trade Centre where they would acquire various skills to enable them become self-reliance.
The State Governor, Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed who unveiled the plan for the youths training Thursday in Bauchi, said the state government has also directed all the agencies responsible for youth empowerment to come up with necessary skills acquisition programmes.
Speaking at an interactive session for youths and women groups in Bauchi as part of the activities marking Nigeria’s 60th Independence anniversary, the governor also disclosed that government will next year embarked on massive sectoral employments into its services where most of the positions would be occupied by youths.
He noted that for the past five years or so, products of educational institutions within and outside the state who are indigenes of Bauchi have been roaming the streets without public jobs meant for them or any employment to fend for a living.
Governor Bala Mohammed said that the current verifications in the state civil service is geared to flush out ghost workers and free resources that could absorb the teeming unemployed youths into the services of government, stressing that youths are veritable tools for socio-economic development of any society.
He added, “I am happy to inform you that over 10 to 15 different programmes are on-going at BACYWORD and other Agencies. We have also commissioned the distribution of one thousand units of Keke Napep to the beneficiaries in the state, purposely to provide an income generating project and reduce our societal transportation problems”.
He further explained that youths de-radicalization programme has gained acceptance as Government has engaged youths hitherto involved in “Sara Suka” into gainful ventures where they were counselled and trained with more than 360 renounced criminality, and some have already been absorbed into various service arms of Federal Government Agencies.
Bala therefore urged the youths to join the government’s crusade of eliminating ghost workers in public service and expose all known culprits with a view to bringing them to book.
“Eschew all forms of delinquency and criminal behavour, improve on your education, ensure that your brothers and sisters of school aged are enrolled and take advantage of various government’s empowerment projects to build your future.
The governor similarly urged the youths to get involved in politics, but not as a tools in the hands of politicians who will use them for selfish ends, rather in politics to ensure good governance and a better future for themselves.
He conclusively told the youths, “Assist law enforcement agents in the fight against kidnapping, armed robbery and all forms of misdemeanors and criminality and ensure respect for constituted authority”.
