By Umar Faruk, Birnin Kebbi
Kebbi State Government under the leadership of Dr. Nasir Idris, has concluded plans to construct nine skills acquisition centers across the state with a view to harnessing the abundant youths’ talents to make them self employed.
Four standard skills acquisition centers would be constructed across the four Emirates of the state while the other five mini centers would be constructed at the zonal offices of the Ministry of Youths and Sports Development across the state.
The decentralisation of the projects is to minimise the cost of transportation for the trainees from far away local government areas of the state.
The Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, Alhaji Nura Bala Fingila, announced this at a Ministerial Press Briefing in Birnin Kebbi organised by the Ministry of Information and Culture.
He said” the State Governor, has great passion for investing in the youths who are the future leaders for the development of the state.
According to him, the Ministry for Youths and Sports Development has designed programmes for the benefit of the teeming youths in the state.
He said that the move is in tune with the provisions of the National Youth Policy of the federal government such as skills acquisition, youth empowerment scheme, youth ,foreign, National and Local sponsorship, among others.
He equally said that the Ministry was ready to collaborate with both local or foreign NGOs as well as other ministries,agencies and parastatals willing to assist in the empowerment or youth training in trade, agriculture and other sectors.
The Commissioner further stated that the state government under the watchful eyes of Gov. Nasir Idris was making frantic efforts to stem the tide of thuggery among the youths.
” Kebbi State Government has began the process of rehabilitating thugs to integrate them into the larger society.
‘ Under the plan, the administration will induct them in various skills acquisition trainings with monthly stipends for self sustenance and wealth creation.
“Governor Nasir Idris has directed my ministry to document such thugs towards providing them with utmost care and reslect care as decent persons.
“In addition, the government has intensified efforts to eradicate juvenile delinquency, moral decadence, youth restiveness, drug abuse and addiction.
” This is aimed at providing the youths with ample opportunities and encouragement to develop their talents for optimum benefits,” he explained.
On sports, Alhaji Nura explained that the administration of Gov Nasir had recorded tremendous sucessess and reforms in furtherance of the Youths Development Programme of the Governor aimed at making them productive members of the society.
The Commissioner reeled out numerous laurels won by athletes as well as sportsmen and women of the state origin in various sports, including football, volleyball, basketball, handball, badminton, beach soccer and taekwendo at both national and international levels.
Similarly, professional footballers from Kebbi State are under going trials in Egypt and Portugal while the state government has opened a football academy in Birnin Kebbi in partnership with some Portuguese Football Promoters and Players’ Agents.
On his part, the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Alhaji Yakubu Ahmad Birnin Kebbi, said the purpose of the Ministerial press briefing was to keep the public abreast of government activities and be accountable to the people.
