Sokoto Gov Aliyu Sponsors Skills Training for 50 Youths

By Bashir Rabe Mani, Sokoto

Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, has personally sponsored a two-week skills acquisition programme for 50 youths as part of efforts to implement his administration’s Nine-Point Smart Agenda.

The programme, designed to promote youth empowerment, reduce unemployment and encourage self-reliance, was inaugurated by the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Development, Dr Bashir Muhammad Achida, who represented the governor at the ceremony.

Speaking at the inauguration, Achida described youth empowerment as a critical component of sustainable development, noting that investing in young people would have a positive impact on families and society.

He urged the beneficiaries to remain committed to the training, acquire practical skills and apply the knowledge gained to establish sustainable sources of livelihood.

The commissioner assured them that the government would monitor their progress after the programme to ensure they put their newly acquired skills to productive use.

He also stressed that empowering one individual could positively transform an entire household, adding that the selection process was designed to ensure fairness and inclusiveness.

According to him, no top government official nominated a relative for the programme, as the beneficiaries were deliberately selected from different households to ensure wider distribution of the empowerment opportunity.

Earlier, the Director-General of the Sokoto State Contributory Health Management Agency (SOCHEMA), Alhaji Yusuf Abu Abdulkarim, said the initiative followed an engagement between youth leaders in the state and Governor Aliyu on the need to equip young people with skills for economic independence.

He explained that the governor personally provided financial support to facilitate the training.

Abdulkarim said the 50 participants would receive training in various vocational areas, including mobile phone repairs, solar power installation and maintenance, as well as other practical skills.

He added that necessary support would be provided to enable the beneficiaries to establish their businesses after completing the programme.

Also speaking, the Director-General of Investments, Alhaji Murtala Bala, said the initiative would contribute to reducing unemployment and poverty while promoting economic productivity across the state.

He noted that equipping young people with practical skills would make them self-reliant and enable them to contribute meaningfully to their families and communities.

The training facilitator, Alhaji Yahaya Dogon Daji, commended the governor for personally sponsoring the initiative, describing it as an investment with potential multiplier effects on Sokoto State’s economy.

Some of the beneficiaries expressed appreciation to the governor, pledging to take the training seriously and make effective use of the opportunity.