By Haruna Usman, Birnin Kebbi
A non-governmental organisation, Alkali Hussaini Foundation belonging to former minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Salamatu Hussaini in collaboration with Kebbi Development Forum, has trained 120 youth on computer and tailoring in Birnin Kebbi, the Kebbi State capital.
Speaking at the occasion of the graduation, former Hajiya Salamatu Suleman, expressed confidence that the graduates will leave a better life with the skills they acquired within four months training.
She stated that the foundation was established 11 years ago and had trained high number of youths in various skills which she said the programmes of the foundation are now making impact on lives of the beneficiaries and the society.
While expressing appreciation to some stakeholders for their support to the foundation for providing starter packs to the graduates, the former minister called on youths to engage in skills acquisition rather than waiting for a white-collar job.
The Secretary, Kebbi Development Forum, Alhaji Abdullahi Sani Mungadi, while assuring continued support to the foundation, called on the graduating youths to use the skills they acquired in transforming their immediate society.
In their separate goodwill messages, representatives of Ministry of Higher Education, Lower Education and that of Women Affairs, said the state government is supporting youths in skills acquisition across the state so that they become self-employed.
Coordinator of the programme, Malam Yaseen Hammani, said the four months training cut across male and female youths including those with special needs in the state.
Hussaini further admonished graduates from universities and other tertiary institutions across the country to slow down their quest for white-collar jobs because they are not readily available, they should instead venture into farming and other skills.
“We have been into collaboration with several federal government social interventions under President Bola Tinubu-led government but honestly the north is lagging behind in terms of filling their quota”.
The colourful graduation was attended by stakeholders like Stanbic IBTC Bank who supported the foundation with huge undisclosed funds used in facilitating the training.