Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero of Kaduna state yesterday distributed starter packs and take-off grants to the 7, 600 youth and women trained in 32 different trades and skills under the Kaduna state 2012 SURE-P Youth and Women Empowerment Skill Acquisition Training Programme.
The 7,600 youth and women, drawn from the 23 local government areas, were trained for five months in various vocations with 1, 585 trained in irrigation farming, 477 were trained in rice production, 411 in maize production, 273 in fishery, 250 in poultry, 229 in rice milling and 210 in catering and event management. The youth and women were also trained in block making (193), bricklaying (189), horticulture (194), plumbing work (192) and printing (191) amongst others.
Addressing the beneficiaries and a mammoth gathering at the Kaduna Township Stadium yesterday, Yero said the programme was aimed at creating wealth by providing employment opportunities for the youth and women in the state to reduce poverty, youth restiveness and bring insecurity in the state to an end.
The Governor urged the beneficiaries to create a better future for themselves, while warning them against selling the starter packs or handling their work with levity, as they would be constantly monitored and evaluated to see their progress.
Chairman of the Kaduna state 2012 Sure-P programme, who is also the deputy governor of the state, Ambassador Audu Bajoga, urged the beneficiaries to put the starter packs and training grants into meaningful use to improve their living conditions and that of their families.
Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris, who was represented by the Emir of Jema’a, Alhaji Muhammadu Isa, in his remarks, thanked the governor for addressing unemployment, poverty and insecurity in the state using the Sure-P fund. He urged the beneficiaries to make the best use of the opportunity availed them through the training.
One of the beneficiaries, Ananias Everest, from Kajuru local government area, who was trained on goat-keeping, said the training and starter packs would enable him cater for himself and his family.
“After collecting the starter packs, I would make sure that the training I was given does not waste. The money I make I would use in training another youth in the goatery and to take care of my family.”
