, Mr Mathias Aliu has successfully trained 100 residents of his constituency on different skills acquisition programmes.){kind=link}
By Philomina Attah
The Councillor representing Wuse Ward, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Mr Mathias Aliu has successfully trained 100 residents of his constituency on different skills acquisition programmes.
According to Aliu, the training is aimed at combating the rampant issue of drug abuse among youths.
The AMAC Chairman, Christopher Maikalangu, at the closing ceremony of the 2-day intensive training on Thursday, said that empowering youths would help address idleness in society.
Maikalangu, who was represented by the Chief of Staff to AMAC, Mr Emeka Orji, said that such a step would help to foster a safer, more prosperous community.
He said that the programmes sought to engage young people through “Stomach Infrastructure”, a local initiative providing skills training and resources to start small businesses
According to him, the programme is aimed at empowering them so that they can be useful to themselves and to society.
In recognising the link between idleness and crime, Maikalangu said that the council, in collaboration with the Aliu, came up with the programme.
“The profundin’s success is hinged on collaboration with local leaders and consistent funding, aiming to become a regular fixture in AMAC’s 12 wards.
“We, in conjunction with the councillor representing Wuse Ward, came up with a programme to sensitise them on the negative impact of drugs in our society.
“Now, as a follow-up to that, the council has decided to go into an empowerment programme in what we call stomach infrastructure in our local parlance to engage these youths,” he said.
He said when the youths were kept busy, they would stay away from drugs.
“Most times, when they are not doing anything, that is when they go into drugs and other crimes and criminalities,” he said.
According to him, at the end of the training, a token will be given to enable them to establish themselves.
He advised that no matter how small the token was, by the time they utilised the fund, they would not be found in the streets committing crimes
“AMAC comprises of 12 political wards. And these political wards are not just a ward. Some of them, you can equate it to a local government in a state.
“Therefore, the resources are meagre and we also have to attend to other people in other wards.
“So we hope to make this a regular programme as resources will permit,” he said.
The Councillor, Aliu, said that the initiative aimed to equip youths and the elderly with essential skills to foster self-reliance amidst limited white-collar job opportunities in Nigeria.
He said that participants would receive training certificates and a financial token of N40, 000 to support their entrepreneurial ventures.
He said that the programme, supported by AMAC Chairman, had already benefited 100 individuals, with plans for continued sessions next year to accommodate more residents.
Mr Sylvester Ekemhonye, the consultant and the trainer said that the training focused on practical skills in cosmetology, soap making, catering, and poultry production.
Ekemhonye emphasised the importance of applying the skills to achieve self-reliance, particularly in the absence of white-collar jobs.
He encouraged the participants to utilise their training to create sustainable livelihoods.
“The programme’s hands-on approach ensured that attendees left with practical knowledge and a sense of empowerment for future endeavours,” he said.
One of the participants, Rhoda Bitrus, expressed gratitude to the instructors for imparting not just practical skills but also business acumen to turn knowledge into profitable ventures.
Bitrus said that through the training, she learned valuable skills, including making liquid soap, ice valves, and air fresheners.
She emphasised the importance of self-reliance and community progress, urging continued support for such initiatives.
She said that she was determined to start her own business from home, believing that empowered individuals could uplift their community. (NAN)