By; NICHOLAS DEKERA, Kaduna
A group under the auspices of the Mzough U Tiv Kaduna State Chapter on Saturday kick started the empowerment process for 2,500 Kaduna youth and women by organising a fund raising activity aimed at meeting 150 million Naira target.
Chairperson of the skills acquisition program cum fund raising activities Engineer Rachel Ugye who also doubles as Chairperson Nigerian Society of Engineers Kaduna State Chapter, said joblessness and hunger among youth and women is driving insecurity as hungry people are either recruited as informants or as core agents of kidnappers and bandits.
Engineer Ugye revealed that women in volatile areas of the state are key target for the skills acquisition program stressing that women and children are the most affected in the banditry rampage.
On the choice of whether non Tivs will be selected for the programme, Engineer Ugye revealed that all eligible non Tivs who are based in Kaduna will be selected.
According to her, tailoring, soap making, food processing and storage, catering, computer repair and maintenance, carpentry and others are packages for the skills acquisition programme.
On building of the “Ate U Tiv” (Hall), Engineer Rachel Ugye revealed that “as an engineer, I am already partnering with some of my colleagues in KASUPDA and other relevant authorities to get the needed approval for the building of our hall, most of our members who are engineers will join in the site work to meet up with best international practices.
Also speaking, former Public Relations Officer, Bank of Agriculture, High Chief Wayo hailed Kaduna State Government for always providing the conducive atmosphere for business and all citizens.
According to High Chief Wayo, the present leadership of the Mzough U Tiv Kaduna State Chapter is the 18th in the historical circle of the Mzough U Tiv Kaduna State Chapter, stressing that, “the leadership has consulted widely and we are confident that a touch of smile will reach many and lift them out of poverty”
On insecurity in the state, Wayo hailed Malam Nasir el-Rufai’s strategies in combating the dreaded terrorists, however pointing out that, “it’s looking more of a one-man thing, the masses need to team up with the government and when people are properly engaged, maybe the relocation of villages along the dreaded Abuja Expressway will not be necessary.”
According to Wayo, the 2,500 youth targeted will increase job creation and a shared facility of the Chinese people is being copied and will be workable and sustainable.
“The government of the state under the watch of Malam el-Rufai has been supportive to the ideas of youth and women empowerment. We appeal to him to support the empowerment process that will take 2,500 youth across all tribes and religions out of poverty,” Wayo added.
Earlier, the Former Union Chairman Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHUN) Federal Neuro Psychiatrists Hospital Barnawa, Kaduna, Comrade Atule Emmanuel called on the governments of Benue and Kaduna states to support the empowerment of youth, since more jobs will be created to engage energetic men and women who see crime as easy money making venture.
