In Sokoto, a future for the youths

The global unemployment indices placed Nigeria as one of the worst affected countries. So many efforts are being made to provide employment opportunities, but the number of youth especially graduates keeps surging. The problem according to some experts is largely due to the school curriculum which is not designed to make students job providers but […]

The global unemployment indices placed Nigeria as one of the worst affected countries. So many efforts are being made to provide employment opportunities, but the number of youth especially graduates keeps surging. The problem according to some experts is largely due to the school curriculum which is not designed to make students job providers but job seekers. Vocational training is not part of what schools teach students in addition to conventional subjects.
 This no doubt has constituted a concern for governments in recent times and states are left with an army of youth who idle around. They not only idle away their time, they easily become tools in the hands of mischief makers. The restive nature of the youth and their propensity to be used as pawns has made governments to devise means of engaging them to be productive. Several programmes have been introduced for the youth to take advantage of.
In Sokoto State for instance, the government has introduced programmes to take care of the youth to give them a lifeline to fend for themselves. What the governor did was to confront the issue aggressively. The programmes are run under the ministries for youth and sports, social welfare and poverty reduction agency.
  The government tackled youth restiveness through establishment of skills acquisition programme that has now engaged many youths in gainful employment all over the state.  It is a project the administration pumped huge resources in the purchase of equipment for the training of the youths, and tools and cash to start them  off in various trades.
Now three more skills acquisition centres which would train our youth on modern farming techniques including animal rearing and poultry have been established at the three senatorial zones. Not only that apart from engaging both males and females in these programmes, women development centres have been established in all the 23 local governments of Sokoto State to allow women learn trades while in their matrimonial homes. The whole thing is geared towards training them in various trades and crafts for self economic sustenance under the youth empowerment programme.  On finishing their apprenticeship they are equipped with tools and start-off funds.  The programme has recorded tremendous results.  
The first batch of over 150,000 youth were at the inception of the administration trained in shoe and  mattress making, repairs of solar lights, computer repairs, pomade and bag making and other leather works. These youth were given enough capital to start on the own.
Recently, about 200 youth were sent to Kadawa in Kano State for apprenticeship in crop farming, animal husbandry and metal fabrication. After their graduation the youth were given between N50,000 and N100,000 to start off their trades.  Equally too, 300 youth both males and females were trained on barbing and plaiting.  Another 400 of them were also trained in perfume, candle, snacks, yogurts, meat-pie, donuts and egg roll making. The government did not stop there it established youth friendly centres and assist them with materials and tools for training and community development efforts.
As part of the robust programme only last week Wednesday, the Ministry for Youth and sports graduated 1000 youth in welding, plumbing and auto mechanic. This was in addition to an earlier batch of over 5,750 that graduated in fabrication of cooking pots, stove making paint production and other miscellaneous trades. With this opportunities which abound in the state youth have no reason to complain of unemployment except they are lazy and do not want to be self reliant.
Another interesting development is the introduction of job opportunities in tree planting and watering, sanitation, and vigilante and crowd control. 1000 of them are being employed in the 23 local government areas.  200 more are to benefit from a public transport programme where they would be trained to operate computerized vehicles fitted with modern gadgets. The neighbourhood initiative programme has given employment to so many thousand in its first year while the second phase has seen over 2600 youth trained under the programme. The training is mainly in the area of first aid and neighbourhood watch services.      
The state governor, Magatakarda Wamakko, a teacher by profession, understands that allowing the youths to be idle would be dangerous; therefore arresting possible restiveness amongst them is a priority. As a result he provided a befitting pastime for them in sports by renovating the Giginya memorial stadium, and provided sporting equipment. All these are targeted at youth empowerment.  Many youths now take advantage
of the opportunities provided by the present administration to fit properly into the economy.  Opportunities provided in the rural areas also have helped to stemmed rural- urban migration because the youth combine farming and trading to improve their welfare.

 Garba wrote from Abdullahi Fodio Road, Sokoto