Skill Acquisition: Minister Warns 393 Beneficiaries In North-East Against Selling Starter Packs
By Chima Azubuike
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development Sadiya Umar Farouq, has provided starter packs for 393 beneficiaries trained across the North-East of Nigeria.
Our Correspondent reports that they were trained in baking and catering; tailoring and embroidery and auto mechanic, they would earn N10,000 each monthly for six months.
Farouq, who was represented by Deputy Director Department of Planning of Planning, Research and Statistics Ali Garba, warned against selling of starter packs provided by the ministry, adding that when the efforts of Federal Government is backed with positive action by utilising them for the trades, level of joblessness would reduce.
She noted that skill acquisition is the pathway becoming self reliant, stressing that the Ministry alongside partners are working assiduously to empower men and women especially the youth.
According to the Minister, “We selected 393 beneficiaries from six states of the region and for the past six weeks they have been undergoing training.
“This is a job creation programme. We will give them 10,000 for the next six months, aside from providing them starter packs to begin their various businesses.”
Also speaking, Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Yahaya, who was represented by Habu Singa, Gombe Focal Person lauded the Ministry for its far-reaching empowerment, stressing that this would to a large extent boost the economy.
“We want to thank you for your programmes; the school feeding programme of pupils primary one to three. It can’t be underestimated as it has encouraged our people to go back to school. Participants I want to congratulate you all for being part of this wonderful programme of the Ministry, as the representative of the Minister said don’t go and sell the items they are meant for you to use to encourage you to teach others so that the societal problem we are passing through, we can overcome it by the grace of God,” the Governor said.
On his part, Provost of the Federal College of Education (FCE) Technical Dr. Ali Boderi, who was represented by Dr. Abdulkadiri Ghazali, explained this singular effort government is working assiduously to shift attention from certificate to skill acquisition.
Boderi said, “This can serve you more than the paper qualifications. If your source of income is only one you are a poor person. The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management has spent a lot of money to acquire the starter packs for you.”
