By Ibrahim Kado
Save the Children International, an NGO, in collaboration with the National Directorate of Employment, has empowered no fewer than 175 adolescent boys and girls in Adamawa.
Speaking at the graduation and presentation of start-up kits for the beneficiaries on Wednesday in Yola, Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri appreciated the effort and congratulated the beneficiaries.
Fintiri, represented by Dr Umar Pella, the Commissioner for Education, said the project was in line with his administration’s commitment to provide skills to unemployed people to improve their livelihood.
He said: “Government is always willing and ready to partner with any organisation or group to impact positively on the lives of people in the state.
“Save the Children International has done well and we hope it will do more. I call on other NGOs to emulate them,” he said.
He however advised the organisations to partner with relevant ministries when implementing projects, to encourage sustainability after expiration of their projects in the state.
Mr Abdulrasheed Mohammed, the State Team Lead, Save the children International, appreciated the state government for providing enabling environment for them to impact on the state.
Their area of intervention in the state, he said, included education, health and nutrition, respectively.
Muhammed said the beneficiaries received six months training on various trades, including tailoring, catering, fashion design, carpentry, barbing and metal fabrication.
He said that the starter packs provided was for the beneficiaries to kick start their own businesses for the development of their communities.
Mr Bello Nuhu, the NDE Acting State Coordinator, encouraged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the starter packs by applying their skills into practice.
Nuhu cautioned them against selling their starter packs for their own benefits.
He called on them to understand that white collar jobs are no longer available, hence the need for them to work hard and be employers of labour.
Responding on behalf of other beneficiaries, Mr Abdulrahman Salihu, appreciated the organisation and the master trainers.
The beneficiaries pledged to make judicious use of their newly acquired skills and working tools accordingly.
