From Bashir Rabe Mani, Sokoto
A total of 50 youth selected across Sokoto State have commenced a two-week skills acquisition program personally sponsored by Governor Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, expressing their readiness to acquire vocational skills aimed at reducing unemployment and driving the administration’s 9-Point Smart Agenda.
The 50 beneficiaries will receive practical training across several key trades, including mobile phone repairs, solar power installation and maintenance, and various technical vocations.
Beyond the training sessions, the beneficiaries are slated to receive starter packs and business setup equipment personally backed by Governor Aliyu to help them establish independent enterprises upon completion.
Speaking at the official inauguration of the workshop, the State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Development, Dr. Bashir Muhammad Achida, who represented Governor Aliyu, urged the participants to maximize the opportunity.
He emphasized that youths aged 31 and below make up roughly 73 to 75 percent of the state’s population, making them the primary engine room for regional development.
Dr. Achida assured the beneficiaries that the selection process was conducted transparently without political favoritism or nominations by high-ranking government officials, ensuring that empowerment reaches diverse households.
He charged the trainees to take their lessons seriously, noting that equipping a single youth directly uplifts an entire family and the broader community.
Providing context on the initiative’s origin, the Director-General of the Sokoto State Contributory Health Management Agency (SOCHEMA), Alhaji Yusuf Abu Abdulkarim, explained that youth leaders in the state had directly engaged Governor Aliyu on the necessity of practical skill acquisition to foster economic independence.
He confirmed that the governor personally funded the program to ensure the 50 selected participants receive comprehensive instruction and startup tools.Supporting the initiative, the Director-General of Investments, Alhaji Murtala Bala, and the training facilitator, Alhaji Yahaya Dogon Daji, highlighted that empowering the 50 trainees will produce a significant multiplier effect on Sokoto’s local economy, curbing poverty and promoting self-reliance.
A cross-section of the 50 beneficiaries commended Governor Aliyu for the gesture, and pledged their complete dedication throughout the two-week intensive training to ensure the objectives of the program are fully realized.
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