By Deborah Hassan
As part of efforts towards further empowering youths in Sokoto State, Governir Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has disclosed that his government would embark on a youth enterpreurship programme across the state in December.
Tambuwal, who was named “Golden Doyen of Nigerian Youths’ by the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), stated this today at the maiden celebration of the 2020 African National Youth Day organised by the NYCN, in collaboration with the government of Sokoto state at the Sultan Maccido institute of Qur’an and General Study in the state capital.
A press signed by the governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Muhammed Bello, explained that the programme which will be executed by the office of the governor, will run for a pilot period of three months, after which it will run concurrently till the end of the present administration.
Bello added that the programme is aimed at further empowering the teeming youth in the state, some of who are already members of the state executive council and the public service.
He said the governor informed the youths that “Lots of youths empowerment programmes are currently being undertaken by the state Ministry of Youth and Sports Development to boost economic programmes by seeking out youth with exceptional skills that will be given special attention and motivation.”
According to him, the state government is in the process of establishing a department of Women and Youth Empowerment on technological incubation under the Ministry of Science and Technology.
Tambuwal also vowed that more youths will also be trained on governance and executive practices so that they will be better prepared for leadership and responsibility while commending President Muhammadu Buhari and African leaders for recognising the day for the youths in Africa and Nigeria.
While reiterating the government’s commitment to the welfare and well being of youths, he described the day as unique and special, being the first recorded African youth day to be marked “at a critical period of Nigeria and continental history when the youths are demanding for good governance.”
On sports development in the state, the governor said his administration is currently constructing a world class sports arena and an indoor sports hall which will accomodate all types of sporting activities and prepare young men and women to compete on the global stage.
The governor urged them to live in peace with one another, saying, ”The Nigerian Project can work and shall work. It is our responsibility to get Nigeria working.
“We can join hands together to make Nigeria work. It can be done and it can be achieved. I assure Nigerians that our country will become the pride of the black people and that of the African continent.”
Tambuwal commended Sokoto State youths for restraining themselves during the #EndSARS protests, which he described as a wake up call to all Nigerians which lesson should not be forgotten.
In his remarks, the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Youth and Student Matters, Hon Nasir Adhama, who was represented by Dr Aminu Abdullahi, said the federal government has introduced a youth empowerment scheme where 774,000 youth across the country will be trained in various trade.
On his part, the president of the NYCN, Amb. Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo, adopted the ‘5 of 5’ demands that was presented to federal government as the official position of Nigerian youths for the restoration of trust and cooperation between government and them after the recent #EndSARS protests.