By Terna Chikpa, Jalingo
Taraba State Government on Thursday said it has completed arrangements for the disbursement of grants to 18,000 youths across the state to alleviate poverty.
Honourable Habu Philip, the state Commissioner for Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation, disclosed this at a press briefing in Jalingo, to mark his one year in office as Commissioner.
According to the commissioner, the ministry had earlier disbursed grants to 3000 youths, noting that Governor Kefas has given approval for the exercise to be expanded to cover additional 18,000 youth.
Habu explained that the decision was part of governor Kefas’ deliberate efforts to fight poverty in Taraba through capacity building. This is just as he said that the 18,000 youth will receive the grant few weeks from today.
“I want to sincerely commend our leader the Governor of Taraba State Dr Agbu Kefas for bringing us on board to serve in this capacity and for providing an enabling environment for us to do our best.
“I wish to inform you that between June and December last year, we were able to disburse grants of 50,000 and 100,000 Naira respectively, to 3000 various categories of youth. As we speak, governor Agbu Kefas has granted the approval for expansion of the grants to cover 18,000 youth across Taraba.
“My ministry has successfully engaged with the Federal Ministry of labour in Abuja and have taken over Skills acquisition centres that were built by the Federal Government but were not fully in use. To this development, i am pleased to inform you that the Skill Acquisition Centres at Donga local government area has been handed over to Taraba State University for efficient management and training of youth in various skills. Similarly, the other Center at Kona Road here in Jalingo, is also under serious renovation. The idea is to refurbish it to standard and make it functional again.
“The State Governor has shown serious determination to tackle poverty in the State and the results are beginning to show. As part of measures to tackle poverty, governor Kefas declared free education in primary and secondary schools for all, including payment of registration for WAEC and NECO exams for students. The package also comes with provision of uniforms and books.
“We are aware that things are very tough. In Taraba, the poverty index is very high. You have 8 in every 10 people living below the poverty line. This is totally unacceptable and the governor is determined to ensure that the narrative is change. Already, the people on the street as well as those in our villages are feeling the impacts of his intervention and are grateful because he insists that what is meant for the people goes directly to them,” the commissioner disclosed.
