Jigawa Govt. empowers 15,676 youths, women
NAN-HE-17
Training
By Muhammad Nasir Bashir
Dutse, Dec. 8, 2016 (NAN) The Jigawa Government on Wednesday said it had empowered no fewer than 15,676 youths and women across the state between 2015 and 2016.
Alhaji Muhammad Mujaddadi, the Special Assistant (SA) to Gov. Muhammad Badaru, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse.
Mujaddadi said that the beneficiaries were trained and empowered in various income-generating trades.
He explained that 255 youths, clustered into 45 groups, were trained on sesame production.
The special assistant added that 574 women were each given three goats to rear under the state government’s Goats Multiplication Farming Scheme.
According to him, some 118 youths and women have been trained in collaboration with Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation (SAMF), adding that each of the beneficiaries was given N50,000 grant to establish his own business.
Mujaddadi said that motorcycles (the Qlink 150 brand) were distributed to 41 youths in the state at subsidised prices, pointing out that they were to be used for commercial purposes by the beneficiaries.
“The 41 motorcycles were valued at N6, 285,000; each of the beneficiaries is expected to pay only 65 per cent of the cost of the motorcycles within 66 weeks.
According to him, another set of 100 women has been trained by the state government in collaboration with Development Initiative for African Women (DIFAN) under the Waste to Wealth Creation empowerment scheme.
The SA further told NAN that some 1,400 youths were grouped into clusters, to cultivate 700 hectares of assorted crops during the last dry season farming, adding they were provided with the needed inputs at subsidised rate.
He disclosed that 4,100 youths clustered into groups, were engaged to cultivate 700 hectares in the last rainy season.
Mujaddadi added that 540 local food vendors were given improved energy stoves and N20,000 grant to enhance their business.
He noted that 574 sprayers, 20 thrashers, 40 mini harvesters, 44 milling machines were given to 651 youths as soft loan.
According to him, 320 women were trained in rice per boiling and drying in rice producing communities in the state.
“As you are aware, the concept of youth economic empowerment is a top policy thrust of this administration,’’ he said.
The SA noted that the gesture was to reduce unemployment and youths restiveness.
Mujaddadi added that it was also to make youths embrace agriculture by making attractive to both women and youths across the state.
He further pointed out that the gesture was to develop the capacities of women in entrepreneurship and make them self-reliant economically.
“It is also to empower the women to contribute meaningfully to the economic growth of their families, communities and the state.
“Women will be accorded special attention considering the level of their vulnerability in the society,’’ he added. (NAN)
MNB/AIS/IA
Edited by Idris Abdulrahman